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BR  1725  .E94  1829 

Ewing,  Greville,  1767-1841 

Memoir  of  Barbara  Ewing 


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MEMOIR 


OP 


BARBARA    EWING  ; 


BY 


HER  HUSBAND, 


GREVILLE    EWING 


Jiostou : 

LINCOLN   AND  EDMANDS. 
1829. 


WHOSE  MEMORY  I  CHERISH, 

WHO  STILL  REMEMBERS  ME, 
WHOM  I  AM  QUICKLY  FOLLOWING  TO  DEATH, 

AND  HOPE,  THROUGH  MERCY,  SOON  TO  MEET, 
IN  A  DEATHLESS  WORLD. 


PUBLISHERS'    NOTICE. 


An  English  copy  of  this  work  was  put  into 
the  hands  of  the  Publishers  by  a  pious  friend  in 
Boston,  with  the  hope  that  a  book  which  had  so 
deeply  interested  the  Christian  community  in 
Scotland,  might  be  reprinted  in  this  country. 

In  presenting  this  edition,  the  Publishers  feel 
persuaded  that  the  readers  of  Christian  Memoirs 
will  find  in  the  character  of  Mrs.  Ewing,  a  re- 
markable friend  to  the  Saviour,  and  to  his  faith- 
ful ministers  and  followers  ;  and  place  the  work 
among  their  choice  selection  of  religious  books. 
It  will  enrich  every  family  and  Sabbath  school 
library  into  which  it  may  be  introduced. 

A  London  periodical  remarks  :  "  Whether  we 
regard  the  materials  which  compose  this  volume, 
or  the  artless  manner  in  which  the  afflicted  wri- 
ter has  thrown  them  together ;  we  cannot  but 
hail  with  peculiar  satisfaction,  the  appearance  of 
such  a  work." 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

Mrs.  Ewing's  birth  and  connexions,           -         -  9 

General  character, 11 

Knowledge  of  the  Gospel,  15 

Dissent  from  the  Established  Church,         -         -  17 

Accession  to  the  Congregational  Union,     -        -  19 

Letter  to  Mrs.  E r, 20 

Extract  of  another  Letter  to  the  same,  30 

Education  and  other  opportunities  of  improvement,  31 

Effect  on  the  character  of  her  religious  profession,  32 
Behaviour  in  cases  of  misunderstanding  and  op- 
position,       -------33 

Letter  to  a  young  friend  on  the  subject,     -         -  36 

Forbearance  and  faithfulness,             ...  39 
Sentiments  on  Christian  fellowship,  and  approved 

authors, 41 

Union  of  holy  principle  and  heavenly  temper,     -  42 

Specimens  of  early  correspondence,  in 

A  Letter,  on  the  death  of  a  Friend,            -        -  43 

on  the  same,  to  the  same,  44 

on  the  death  of  an  Aunt,  45 

on  the  death  of  one  in  a  doubtful  state,  47 

Eminence  in  various  valuable  qualities,     -        -  49 


vi  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Desire  for  the  improvement  of  my  Library,        -  50 

Character  and  success  as  a  stepmother,  51 

Letter  to  my  daughter,     -         -         -         -        -  52 

Love  to  children  and  young  people,  53 
Letter  to  a  young  friend  going  abroad,       -         -  55 
Zeal  for  missions,  and   various  religious   and  be- 
nevolent Institutions,  57 
Sermons  for  the   Congregational  Union  Widows' 

and  Ministers'  fund,                     ...      -  58 

Journies  for  promoting  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  59 

Journey  to  London,          -----  61 

Correspondence  with  Ministers  and  Missionaries,  63 
Attendance  on  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Con- 
gregational Union,  64 
Interest  in  sales  of  Ladies'  Work,  for  the  City 

Mission,  and  for  Itinerancies  to  the  Highlands,  64 

Habits,  and  correspondence,  of  private  friendship,  65 
Letters  to  a  widowed  friend,  on  the  death  of  her 

husband,      -------67 

Summer  residence  in  the  country,              -         -  72 

Letter  to  the  above  widowed  friend,  75 

Last  Letter  to  the  same,            ...         -  77 

Last  visit  to  Durham, SI 

Letter,  on  her  return,  to  Mrs.  Matheson,           -  82 
Letter  to  the  same,  on  the  City  Mission  Sale,  and 

on  the  last  anniversary  of  our  marriage,        -  85 

Letter  to  the  same,  on  the  death  of  her  daughter,  87 

State  of  Mrs.  Ewing's  health,            ...  89 

State  of  my  health, 90 

Circumstances  preceding  the  calamity,      -        -  91 

Mrs.  Ewing's  state  of  readiness,  92 

Last  Letter  to  Mrs.  H n,  92 


CONTENTS.  VII 

Page 

The  Excursion,       - 93 

The  Catastrophe,             97 

Mrs.  Ewing's  fortitude  and   patience  in  her  suf- 
ferings,             ------  99 

Her  faith,  hope,  and  love,  in  death,  -         116 — 117 

Lines  on  Mrs.  Ewing's  Death,         -         -         -  127 

Extract  from  Sermon  of  Rev.  George  Logan,  130 

Extract  from  Sermon  of  Rev.  Dr.  Wardlaw,  133 

Lines  on  visiting  Mrs.  Ewing's  Grave,     -         -  142 

Lines  by  Bernard  Barton,        ....  143 

Lines  by  a  Minister  in  Suffolk,        -  144 

Lines  by  a  young  Man,            ....  145 

Letters  of  Condolence, 148 

by  Mrs.  Ewing,  (too  late  for  the  Memoir,)  150, 151 

by  Mrs.  Matheson,        ...         -  153 

R.  L , 156 

Rev.  Joseph  Fletcher, 158 

Rev.  Henry  Townley,             ....  161 

Rev.  David  Russel, 163 

Rev.  John  Watson, 165 

Rev.  William  Orme, 167 

Rev.  Neil  M'Neil, 173 

T.  S.  J 's  Letter, 178 

Rev.  H.  F.  Burder,  (ought  to  have  been  167)  180 

Rev.  Andrew  Ritchie,             ....  182 

Rev.  Thomas  Smith, 185 

Rev.  John  Hill,              187 

M.  C.  T r, 189 

Rev.  Alex.  Dewar, 190 

Church  at  Dumfries, 192 

T.  Erskine,  Esq.  ofLinlathen,  194 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Miller,            ....  195 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Rev.  Gilbert  Wardlaw,  201 

Rev.  G.  D.  Cullen, 203 

Rev.  J.  Hill, 205 

Aberdeenshire  Association,      -        -        -  208 

Rev.  John  Aiknian, 212 

M.  H. 215 

Rev.  John  Campbell, 216 

Rev.  Dr.  Winter, 219 

Rev.  Dr.  Clunie, 221 

C.  P 1,     .......  223 


MEMOIR. 


Mrs.  Ewing  was  bora  at  Polloc,  on  the  20th 
December,  1773.  Her  maiden  name  was  Bar- 
bara Maxwell.  She  was  the  second  daughter  of 
the  late  Sir  James  Maxwell,  Baronet,  of  Polloc, 
sister  of  the  present  Sir  John  Maxwell,  and  aunt 
of  John  Maxwell,  Esq.,  the  present  Member  of 
Parliament  for  the  county  of  Renfrew,  and  of  his 
only  remaining  sister,  Miss  Maxwell. 

When  the  honours  of  her  ancient  family  be- 
came at  any  time  the  subject  of  conversation, 
she  would  acknowledge,  with  peculiar  gratitude, 
the  goodness  of  God  in  raising  up  in  it,  at  vari- 
ous periods,  many  persons  of  eminent  piety.  In 
the  unhappy  days  of  tyranny  and  persecution, 
the  Maxwells  of  Polloc,  distinguished  themselves 
as  friends  to  the  civil  and  religious  liberty  of 
their  country.  They  afforded  shelter  to  the  dis- 
tressed ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ— coun- 
tenanced the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  to  the 
afflicted  people— relieved  the  necessities  of  the 
outlawed  Covenanters— and  incurred  heavy  fines 
B 


10  MEMOIR    OF 

for  those  generous  acts  of  zeal  and  compassion.* 
Mrs.  Evving  knew  many  instances  of  worthy 
representatives,  and  members  of  the  family,  who 
had  remarkably  adorned  the  doctrines  of  our 
God  and  Saviour,  in  their  respective  times.  In 
her  own  day,  also,  she  had  seen  bright  examples 
of  excellence  in  her  aunts,  Miss  Maxwell  and 
Mrs.  Montgomery  of  Auldhouse ;  and  in  Lady 
Walter  Maxwell,  well  known  in  the  religious 
world,  both  of  Scotland  and  England,  and  of 
whom  more  than  one  memoir  has  been  pub- 
lished. 

Above  all,  she  delighted  in  recollecting  the 
grace  of  God,  which  had  been  given  to  her  on- 
ly sister,  Frances  Maxwell,  afterwards  Mrs.  Cun- 
inghame  of  Craigends.  From  their  infancy, 
they  had  been  endeared  to  each  other  by  the 
warmest  natural  affection.  They  became  im- 
pressed with  the  truth  and  value  of  the  Gospel 
about  the  same  time,  and  by  the  same  means. 
In  temper,  talents,  and  Christian  principle,  they 
proved  t'.iemselves,  while  spared  to  each  other, 
to  be  kindred  spirits.  Barbara  used  to  say,  that 
she  looked  up  to  her  sister  in  every  thing.  I 
suppose  they  were  always  communicative,  con- 
fidential, and  most  completely  harmonious. 
When  Mrs.  Cuninghame  died,  her  sister  felt  as 
if  she  could  not  live  without  her ;  and  yet  she 
said,  that  when  she  thought  of  the   blessedness 


See  Wodrow's  Church  History. 


MRS.    EWING.  II 

of  the  departed  soul,  she  durst  not  indulge  her 
grief.  That  trying  event  happened  several  years 
ago,  but  it  had  made  an  indelible  impression  on 
Mrs.  Ewing's  mind.  She  never  spoke  of  her 
sister's  death  but  with  the  deepest  seriousness. 

The  writer  of  this  Memoir  is  not  the  only  wid- 
owed husband  connected  with  the  Polloc  family. 
Among  deceased  friends,  Mrs.  Ewing  had  to 
number  a  lovely,  accomplished,  and  amiable 
niece,  who  was  called  away  in  the  morning  of 
life,  soon  after  giving  birth  to  her  third  child. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Maxwell,  afterwards  Mrs.  Stirling 
of  Kenmuir,  was  very  dear  to  Mrs.  Ewing,  both 
as  a  near  relative,  and  from  early  years,  a  decid- 
edly serious  Christian.  Congenial  in  spirit,  they 
were  bound  to  each  other  by  the  strongest  ties 
of  mutual  attachment.  They  were  lovely  and 
pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in  their  death  they 
have  not  been  long  divided. 

The  most  prominent  feature  of  Mrs.  Ewing's 
character,  was  the  union  of  a  very  superior  un- 
derstanding, with  the  warmest  fervour,  and 
keenest  sensibility  of  an  affectionate  heart. 
Those  who  best  knew  her,  were  most  sensible 
of  this  valuable  union.  Various  as  the  views 
and  dispositions  of  a  numerous  class  of  relatives 
must  in  every  instance  be,  I  believe  it  will  not 
be  thought,  by  any  of  hers,  too  much  to  affirm, 
that  she  deserved  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  and 
regard  of  them  all ;  and  that,  on  her  part,  she 


12  MEMOIR    OF 

loved  them  all  with  the  most  enlightened  and 
exalted  zeal.  Her  ardent,  faithful,  and  unweari- 
ed love  to  her  affectionate  mother,  I  witnessed 
daily  for  several  years.  Her  love  to  her  father, 
who  died  when  she  was  about  twelve  years  of 
age,  I  have  reason  to  believe  was,  in  that  early 
period,  equally  intense.  I  had  the  fullest  evi- 
dence that  her  step-father,  Sir  John  Shaw  Stew- 
art, who  proved  a  kind  parent  to  her,  was  an 
object  of  her  sincerest  and  most  dutiful  affection. 
Her  delight  in  her  sister  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. To  this  must  be  added  a  devoted  at- 
tachment to  her  two  brothers.  The  tn<  mory  of 
the  younger,  Captain  Robert  Maxwell,  who  died 
many  years  ago,  she  tenderly  cherished.  That 
the  elder  brother  and  his  family  were  ever 
among  the  very  dearest  to  her  heart,  appeared 
by  the  whole  of  her  conduct  on  every  occasion, 
and  especially,  as  I  shall  be  able  to  show,  in  her 
last  hour. 

She  was  sensibly  alive  indeed  to  everj  relative 
claim.  The  extensive  circle  of  her  cousins,  and 
the  families  of  those  of  them  who  had  any;  her 
contemporaries  among  them  who  had  been  her 
ciates  from  early  life,  or  those  of  them  who, 
being  younger  than  herself,  were  at  any  time,  or 
in  any  degree  under  her  charge  ;  all  these  were 
ever  regarded  by  her  with  the  tendereal  concern 
for  their  dearesl  interests.  But  it  was  not  ne- 
cessary to  be  related  to  her  by  the  ties  of  blood 
or   affinity,  to    obtain    the   instructions   of   her 


MRS.    EWING.  13 

counsel,  or  the  zealous  exertions  of  her  benevo- 
lence. To  every  one  who  approached  her,  she 
"opened  her  mouth  with  wisdom  ;  and  in  her 
tongue  was  the  law  of  kindness."*  To  en- 
gage her  judicious  and  effective  services,  it  was 
quite  enough  to  give  her  an  opportunity  of  serv- 
ing her  God,  and  doing  good  to  her  fellow  crea- 
tures. 

A  circumstance  very  remarkable  in  the  his- 
tory of  my  late  beloved  wife,  was  the  affection 
and  esteem  with  which  she  was  regarded  by 
worthy  persons  who  intimately  knew  her  from 
the  earliest  period  of  her  childhood.  Not  to 
speak  of  any  of  her  immediate  relatives,  whose 
delight  in  her  might  be  considered  as  the  result, 
in  part  at  least,  of  their  propinquity;  nor  of  her 
youthful  companions,  whose  juvenile  fondness, 
arising  out  of  mutual  amusement,  might  be  con- 
firmed by  habit  and  association ;  there  were 
some  excellent  individuals  called  to  discharge  to 
her  duties  of  the  most  important,  but  anxious 
and  trying  nature,  who  became  attached  to  her 
to  a  degree  that  is  far  from  being  common.  She 
was  blest,  for  example,  with  a  pious  nurse,  who, 
being  a  widow,  continued  with  her  during  the 
whole  of  her  childhood,  till  she  was  about  to  be 
committed  to  the  care  of  a  governess.  As  the 
nurse  was  much  esteemed  in  the  family,  it  was 
then  proposed  to  her  to  remain  as  housekeeper. 


*  Prov.  xxxi.  26. 


14  MEMOIR    OF 

This  proposal  she  at  first  declined,  being  unwil- 
ling to  undertake  so  great  a  charge;  but,  on 
finding  she  could  not  otherwise  continue  in  the 
house,  she  said,  "  rather  than  leave  my  bairn, 
I  will  be  housekeeper,  and  do  the  best  I  can." 
In  her  new  office  she  gave  great  satisfaction, 
and  did  not  leave  the  family  till  she  again  mar- 
ried, and  rose  to  a  deservedly  superior  situation 
in  life.  To  this  day,  she  is  respected  by  them 
all.  While  Mrs.  Ewing  lived,  a  mutual  affec- 
tion, like  that  of  parent  and  child,  was  enhanced 
by  the  bonds  of  Christian  fellowship ;  and  now 
that  she  is  gone,  the  survivor  is  justly  reckoned 
among  the  deepest  of  the  mourners. 

Mrs.  Ewing's  governess  was  also  very  faithful 
and  affectionate.  She  died  some  years  ago  in 
England,  of  which  she  was  a  native.  She  was 
in  different  families  before  she  retired  to  her 
own  country  ;  but  she  always  maintained  a  con- 
fidential correspondence  with  her  old  pupil ;  vis- 
ited her  as  one  of  her  most  esteemed  friends, 
when  she  returned  occasionally  to  this  neigh- 
bourhood; and,  as  a  serious  inquirer  on  the 
most  important  subjects,  consulted  her  whom 
she  had  formerly  been  accustomed  to  teach. 

I  have  no  doubt,  that  Mrs.  Ewing  received  her 
first  serious  impressions  from  some  of  her  own 
relatives,  or  from  her  nurse,  and  other  Christians 
with  whom  it  was  her  happiness  to  be  acquaint- 
ed in  her  earliest  years.     It  appears,  however. 


MRS.   EWING.  15 

that  her  knowledge  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  was, 
under  God,  the  effect  of  reading  a  book,  which 
has  been  blessed  to  many,  Doddridge's  Rise  and 
Progress  of  Religion  in  the  Soul.  By  means  of 
it  she  saw  her  guilt  and  depravity  as  a  sinner, 
who,  with  all  mankind,  had  broken  the  holy  and 
spiritual,  perfect  and  eternal,  law  of  God  ;  the 
love  of  God  in  giving  his  own  Son  as  a  ransom  for 
mankind;  the  suitableness  of  the  Saviour's  atone- 
ment for  sin  ;  and  the  sufficiency  of  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  who  causeth  sinners  to  pass  from 
death  to  life,  and  workcth  in  his  people  to  will 
and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure.  She  received 
the  love  of  the  truth,  that  she  might  be  saved. 
Believing  in  Christ,  she  enjoyed  the  earnest  and 
foretaste  of  heavenly  felicity  in  the  present  pos- 
session of  eternal  life.  Her  prayers  and  praises 
became  those  of  an  adopted  child  of  her  heav- 
enly Father ;  and  all  the  duties  of  her  humble, 
devoted,  self-denied,  decisive,  and  exemplary  vi- 
tal Christianity,  were,  in  her  esteem,  honours  and 
blessings,  for  which  she  never  ceased  to  give 
the  most  grateful  thanks. 

Happy  now,  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  she 
lost  her  relish  for  the  gaieties  of  the  fashionable 
world.  Her  pleasure  was  the  hearing  of  the 
gospel,  and  the  other  exercises  and  ordinances 
of  social  worship.  She  was  attracted  by  Chris- 
tian society,  spiritual  conversation,  and  serious 
epistolary  correspondence.  Her  friendships  arose 
out  of  religious  intercourse.     She  entered  warm- 


16"  MEMOIR    OF 

ly  into  the  spirit  of  the  exertions  of  the  animat- 
ing day,  in  which  she  had  been  introduced  into 
the  kingdom  of  Christ.  She  became  interested 
in  the  cause  of  missions  to  the  heathen  ;  of  itin- 
erancies and  Sabbath-schools  in  her  own  coun- 
try ;  of  recalling  the  attention  of  unbelieving 
Jews  to  the  meaning  of  their  own  Scriptures, 
and  the  other  evidences  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ; 
of  translating  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  every 
language;  and  of  filling  the  world,  Greek  church, 
Popish,  and  Protestant,  Mahommedan  and  Pa- 
gan, with  copies  to  every  man,  in  his  own  tongue, 
of  the  ever-living  and  life  giving  oracles  of  God. 
The  kind  of  preaching,  and  of  public  worship 
to  which  she  had  been  accustomed  in  the  differ- 
ent places  of  her  residence  in  the  country,  were 
far  from  corresponding  with  her  recently  acquir- 
ed evangelical  and  impressive  views  of  divine 
truth.  She  gladly  embraced,  therefore,  oppor- 
tunities of  visiting  Edinburgh,  where  she  could 
Inn  e  choice  of  preachers,  a  wider  circle  of  Chris- 
tian friends,  and  more  abundant  means  of  ob- 
taining  instruction,  and  enjoying  comfort  and 
encouragement  in  holding  last  the  confes.-ion 
of  her  hope.  Here  she  soon  began  to  prefer 
the  itinerant  and  Congregational  preachers, 
for  the  simplicity,  as  she  termed  it,  as  well 
as  seriousness  of  their  preaching,  and  for 
the  efforts  they  weir  making  to  form  their 
Christian  fellowship  solely  according  to  the  rules 
and  examples  of  Holy  Scripture.     She  disap- 


MRS.    EWING.  17 

proved  of  the  promiscuous  state  of  communion 
which  necessarily  ohtaius  in  every  national 
church  ;  felt  the  want  of  faithfulness  in  the  usu- 
al way  of  admitting  persons,  especially  of  the 
higher  ranks,  to'  the  Lord's  table ;  and  could  not 
submit  to  human  authority  in  opposition  to  the 
revealed  will  of  the  divine  Saviour. 

On  returning  to  the  country,  she  decidedly  re- 
fused to  hear  parish  ministers,  who  did  not 
preach  the  gospel ;  and  left  offjoining  in  com- 
munion at  sacraments,  which  she  had  been  for- 
merly in  the  habit  of  attending.  She  not  only 
disregarded  the  opinion  of  the  world,  but  declin- 
ed compliance  with  the  advice  of  fellow  Chris- 
tians, when  she  detected  in  it  conformity  to  the 
world,  rather  than  being  "  transformed  by  the 
renewing  of  the  mind,  and  proving  what  is  that 
good,  and  acceptable,  and  perfect  will  of  God." 
She  was  particularly  surprised  and  shocked  at 
attempts  which  were  made  by  some  ministers  of 
the  establishment,  whom  she  esteemed  and  lov- 
ed as  disciples  of  Christ,  byt  who  advised  her  to 
attend  a  parish  church  in  the  country,,  where 
the  gospel  was  not  preached,  rather  than  give 
an  example  of  dissent ;  representing  it  as  a  want 
of  spirituality,  and  of  self-denial,  and  as  an  evi- 
dence of  presumption,  if  she  should  act  in  a  dif- 
ferent manner. 

She  could  not,  however,  reconcile  her  mind  to 
various  evils,  which  she  was  grieved  to  find  pre- 
vailing around  her  ;  doctrine,  in  her  judgment, 


18  MEMOIR    OF 

frequently  erroneous,  or  confused,  or  inconsist- 
ent, or  brought  forward  in  a  careless,  and  unin- 
teresting manner:  people  generally  disposed  to 
a  self  righteous  system;  having  a  form  of  godli- 
ness (sometimes  little  even  of  that,)  but  denying 
the  power  thereof:  giving  no  conscientious  at- 
tention to  the  religious  instruction1,  and  education 
of  children  at  home  ;  or  to  the  word  andVworship 
of  God  in  the  family  :  leaving  every  thing  to  the 
week-day  school-master:  jealous  of  Sabbath 
schools  :  ashamed  to  countenance  itinerant  and 
dissenting  preachers,  even  when  they  acknowl- 
edged them  to  be  needful :  and  so  opposed  to 
the  alarming  and  humbling  doctrines  of  the  gos- 
pel, that  when  she  spoke  even  to  the  sick  and 
dying  of  the  mercy  of  God  though  Christ  as  the 
sinner's  hope  ;  of  the  state  and  character  of 
every  man  as  a  sinner  ;  of  the  corruption  of  the 
heart,  and  the  guilt  of  the  life  ;  of  the  necessity, 
ami  the  perfection,  of  the  atonement  of  Christ; 
of  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  and  of  the 
exaltation  of  Christ  as  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour  to 
give  repentance  and  the  forgiveness  of  sins; — 

they  sometimes  assured  her  that  she  was  mis- 
taken in  their  character;  that  she  must  have 
been    misinformed    by    calumniators  :  that    they 

were  not  snob  as  Bhe  had  perhaps  been  accus- 
tomed t"  inert  with  in  Other  parts  of  the  coun- 
try ;  that  she  did  not  know  them,  otherwise  she 
would  have  formed  a  more  favourable  (.pinion. 
Seeing  herself,  and   her   neighbors,  surrounded 


MRS.    EWING.  19 

with  such  grievous  disadvantages,  she  was  led  to 
search  the  Scriptures,  with  earnest  prayer,  that 
she  might  learn  the  duty  of  Christians  in  pro- 
moting the  interests  of  the  gospel  in  the  world, 
and  in  providing  themselves  with  the  means  of 
enjoying  the  blessings  of  church  fellowship  for 
mutual  edification.  She  soon  saw  how  plain 
and  easy  the  path  of  duty  is,  in  these,  as  in  all 
other  cases.  She  procured  visits  from  itinerant, 
and  Congregational  preachers  to  Auldkirk,  a  vil- 
lage in  the  vicinity  of  the  place  where  she  then 
lived.  A  congregation  was  raised  ;  a  house  was 
hired,  and  soon  after  a  meeting-house  built  for 
their  accommodation  ;  at  last  a  Congregational 
church  was  formed,  which  continues  to  this  day, 
and  out  of  which  were  early  furnished  the  first 
materials  of  a  larger  church,  which  has  now  sub- 
sisted several  years,  in  that  extensive  and  impor- 
tant sphere  of  usefulness,  the  town  of  Greenock. 
I  know  no  way,  in  which  the  work  of  God  may 
be  more  speedily  or  extensively  revived  in  every 
part  of  this  country,  than  that  Christians  act  in 
the  same  decided  manner,  wherever  it  is  their 
lot  to  dwell.  Say  not,  we  can  do  nothing,  be- 
cause we  live  in  a  wilderness.  It  is  the  very 
reason  why  you  should  do  something.  And 
what  you  can  do  is  perfectly  obvious.  Bring  to 
your  wilderness  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  In- 
vite those,  whom  you  know  to  preach  it  in  other 
places ;  who  are  ready  to  come,  at  your  call,  to 
visit  you  for  the  same  purpose.    And  look  to 


20  MEMOIR    or 

God  for  bis  promised  blessing.  "The  wilder- 
ness and  the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for 
them,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom 
as  the  rose.'** 

Tbe  reasons,  and  the  maimer  of  her  dissent 
from  the  church  of  Scotland,  it  was  necessary  to 
mention,  in  giving  an  account  of  3Irs.  Ewing's 
religious  |  rogress.  On  the  particulars,  however, 
I  need  Dot  further  enlarge,  as  the  reader  will  be 
much  better  pleased  to  see  them  stated  by  -Mrs. 
Ewing  herself,  in  a  letter  which  was  written,  I 
believe,  in  1821,  to  a  young  friend,  who  had  re- 
quested a  correspondence  with  her  on  the  sub- 
ject of  religion,  and  which  that  friend  has  now 
kindl)  sent  me,  and  permitted  me  to  publish. 
It  was  evidently  written  in  haste,  and  without 
the  m  ist  distant  view  to  publication.  On  the 
latter  account  it  appears  to  me  peculiarly  valua- 
ble; and  though  she  might  have  wished  to 
have  made  it  a  more  finished  composition,  I 
am  cerl  tin  she  would  not  be  ashamed  of  a  sen- 
timenl  ii  contains. 

"My  dear  Mis.  E r, 

"My  wish  to  write  you.  ever  since  I  got  youi 
lctt.r.  of  the  *Jl<t  September,  has  been  very 
stron-.  but  hitherto  I  ha\c  hern  wholly  unable. 
As  1  told  you  at  church,  my  last  week's  hin- 
derance  was  illness.  It  strikes  me  that  in  be- 
ginning  a  correspondence,  id   which  religion  is 

*  Isa.  xxxv.  I. 


MRS.    EWING. 


21 


to  hold  the  prominent  place,  and  after  receiving 
a  statement  of  your  views  and  feelings  on  this 
point,  the  best  plan  I  can  follow  is  to  give  you 
some  account  of  mine.  My  ideas,  in  early  life, 
were  very  vague  as  to  the  character  of  God, 
and  the  nature  of  worship.  I  merely  remember, 
that  when  any  thing  of  a  distressing  nature  oc- 
curred to  me,  was  it  but  a  dispute  with  a  play- 
mate, the  first  thought  was,  "  Have  I  forgot  to 
say  my  prayers."  This  was  mere  superstition, 
for  I  do  not  remember  attaching  an  idea  to  the 
words  I  repeated.  When  about  thirteen,  I  be- 
gan to  have  new  ideas  on  these  subjects,  took 
delight  in  contemplating  God  in  his  works,  and 
the  ordinary  round  of  duties.  I  can  truly  say, 
my  most  pleasing  hours  were  then  spent  in 
reading,  singing  hymns,  and  in  prayer.  I 
thought,  in  this  way,  I  should  attain  the  favour 
of  God,  and  become  good.  When  my  good  res- 
olutions and  devotional  plans  were  broken  in 
upon,  and  conscience  told  me  I  was  wrong,  I 
used  to  be  very  unhappy,  and  generally  healed 
this  by  new  resolutions  and  new  efforts,  which 
were  as  ill  adhered  to,  and  cause  of  new  sorrow. 
When  between  fourteen  and  fifteen,  I  had  a 
great  desire  to  go  with  my  mother  and  sister  to 
attend  the  preachings,  and  be  a  communicant  at 
Eastwood.  My  mother  told  me  I  was  too 
young  to  understand  the  nature  of  it,  and  I  must 
stay  at  home  with  Sir  John,  and  take  charge  in 
her  absence.     Till  the  same  period  came,  the 


MEMOIR    OF 


following  year,  when  I  was  allowed  to  go,  I  was 
very  unhappy.     My  mind  had  been  very  deeply 
impressed  with  two  sermons,  one  on  the  omni- 
presence of  God,  and  the  other  on  the  certainty  of 
death,  and  the  uncertainty  of  its  summons,— but 
it  was  in  a  volume  as  destitute  of  what  could  in- 
struct me,  as  to  the  character  of  God,  and  Christ, 
and  myself  as  a  sinner,  and  the  method  of  salva- 
tion, to  give  permanent  peace  and  joy,  and  in  be- 
lieving, as  the  volume  you  quote,  Blair's  Sermons. 
Therefore,  I  was  awakened  to  new  diligence  in 
the  old  way  ;  and  viewing  the  Lord's  supper  as 
a  commanded  duty,  I  was  very  miserable  at  not 
having  obeyed  it,  and  was  in  constant  dread  of 
death,  thinking  my  case,  on  that  account,  very 
alarming.     It  was  joy  and  delight  when  I  was 
permitted  to  go,  and  much  time  was  spent  in  fit- 
ting myself  to  join,  and  I  suppose   my  comfort 
was  such  as  is  felt  by  those  who  think  they  real- 
ly are   absolved  from   their  sins  when  a  fellow 
tinner  performs   this  wonder.     You  who   have 
heard  and  read  gospel  doctrine,  may  wonder  at 
my  ignorance,  but  I  must  account  for  it  by  tell- 
in-  you  that,  to  Ihebestofmy  knowledge,  I  nev- 
er heard    a  gospel   sermon  ;  and   though  I  am 
sure  there  were  Christian  characters  with  whom 
I  had  met,  and  your  excellent  mother  was  one  of 
them,  J  an.  almost  certain  J  had  do  distinct  in- 
struction in  any  other  way  than  in  this,  of  work- 
ing far  life.    My  religious  reading  was  very  bad 
Weed;   Blair's,   Fordyce's,   Sterne's   Sermons, 


MRS.    EWING.  23 

and  such  like.  No  one  questioned  me  as  to  my 
views,  young  as  I  was,  in  going  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  and  I  well  remember  the  answer  given 
by  the  minister  when  he  was  asked  if  he  wished 
to  speak  to  me,  was,  it  was  quite  unnecessary. 
I  felt  increasing  importance  in  religion,  but  nev- 
er understood  any  thing  of  the  true  God  and 
eternal  life,  till  about  eighteen.  I  have  no  doubt 
he  awakened  in  my  conscience  a  painful  sense 
of  my  sins,  and  shortcomings  to  what  I  knew  of 
his  commandments  ;  but  I  never  till  then  saw  the 
spirituality  of  his  law,  which  being  holy,  just, 
and  good,  proved  me  guilty,  and  unable  to  do 
any  thing,  in  whole  or  in  part,  to  justify  myself 
before  him.  I  never  till  then  saw  the  suita- 
bleness of  that  atonement  made  for  sin,  by  Him 
who  laid  down  his  life  in  the  room  of  the  guilty. 
It  was  then  that  the  love  of  God,  in  sending  his 
beloved  Son  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost,  ap- 
peared at  once  to  relieve  from  guilty  fear,  and  to 
bind  by  the  strongest  ties  of  gratitude,  in  endeav- 
ouring to  serve  him,  in  newness  of  life  ;  and 
the  promise  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  shed  abroad 
that  love  in  the  heart,  and  to  work  in  me  both  to 
will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure,  gave  all  that 
was  necessary ;  for  I  knew,  by  bitter,  heart-rend- 
ing experience,  it  was  not  in  me  to  think  even  a 
good  thought  abidingly.  The  means  that  it  pleas- 
ed God  to  use  to  open  the  eyes  of  both  my  be- 
loved sister  and  myself,  was  Doddridge's  Rise  and 
Progress  of  Religion  in  the  Soul.     How  it  came 


24  MEMOIR    OF 

into  our  hands  we  never  could  trace.  It  is  a 
very  awakening  searching  book,  and  though 
there  are  some  things  in  it  which  we  did  not  ap- 
prove, yet  it  led  us  to  scriptural  views  of  our- 
selves, of  the  world,  as  all  corrupt,  of  the  only 
way  in  which  God  could  be  just,  and  justify  the 
ungodly,  and  I  may  say,  led  us  to  bring  its  own 
doctrines  to  the  test  of  Scripture. 

"  I  have  little  more  to  say  as  to  my  views  as  to 
how  a  sinner  is  accepted  with  God  :  my  progress 
in  knowledge  was  slow  ;  one  great  hinderance 
was  the  want  of  the  means  of  grace.  In  five 
different  parishes  in  which  I  resided,  and  under 
nine  different  ministers,  the  gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God  was  not  preached.  After  your  mother 
went  to  Glasgow,  by  her  means  we  saw  the 
Evangelical  Magazine  sometimes.  The  ac- 
counts it  contained  of  the  formation  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  other  attempts  for  promot- 
ing the  cause  of  God,  I  often  tell  Mr.  Ewing, 
was  the  means  of  teaching  me  economy,  and 
the  value  of  money.  Till  then,  my  quarterly 
payment  was  always  forestalled  by  inconsidera- 
tion  of  one  kind  or  another ;  for  even  what  was 
extolled  as  benevolence  and  generosity,  was 
nothing  better  than  yielding  to  sympathy  and 
lively  feeling.  But  I  saw  when  it  required  mon- 
ey to  use  the  means  to  save  precious  immortal 
souls,  I  was  accountable  to  God,  as  a  steward, 
and   that  there   was  an    object  to   be  attained 


MRS.  EWING.  25 

worth  thinking  about.  When  I  was  delighted 
with  the  zeal  and  self-denial  of  Missionaries  go- 
ing into  foreign  climes,  I  often  wished  some 
such  would  visit  Scotland. 

"  You  can  hardly,  then,  form  an  idea  of  the 
pleasure  conveyed  to  me  by  a  pamphlet  your 
mother  put  into  my  hands,  giving  the  journal  of 
the  first  itinerancies  of  Messrs.  Haldane,  Aik- 
man,  and  Rait ;  and  I  accepted  an  invitation  to 
go  to  Edinburgh  in  1798,  chiefly  from  the  wish 
to  meet  with  them  if  possible,  though  I  did  not 
know  any  person  who  knew  them.     My  stay  in 

Edinburgh  was  protracted,  owing  to  Mr.  C , 

of  C 's  coming  in  to  get  medical   assistance, 

from  October  1798,  to  May  1799.  During  that 
time  I  heard  all  the  gospel  ministers  in  the  estab- 
lishment, and  none  other,  forenoon  and  after- 
noon ;  but  I  went  as  often  as  I  could  in  the 
evening  of  Sabbath  to  the  Circus,  and  longed 
for  the  evening,  I  liked  the  style  of  preaching  so 
much.  Some  of  the  established  ministers  "ex- 
postulated with  me  for  doing  so ;  and  I  told  them 
my  only  reason  was,  that  I  found  the  style  more 
suitable  for  me,  which  I  attributed  to  my  igno- 
rance, as  I  thought  I  was  not  well  enough  in- 
structed in  the  first  principles  to  be  able  to  benefit 
by  their  addresses  to  Christians. 

"  When  I  returned   home  *  I  was  more   than 
ever  grieved  for  the  want  of  the  gospel,  both  on 

*  To  Ardgowan. 
C 


26  MEMOIR  OF 

my  own  account,  and  on  account  of  the  people 
off  the  parish,  who  were  dreadfully  ignorant. 
When  I  visited  them  in  sickness  or  poverty,  and 
spoke  to  them  as  sinners  needing  salvation,  they 
assured  me  they  were  not  sinners ;  but  some  of 
them  excused  me  for  speaking  so  to  them,  as 
they  knew  in  Pollockshaws  there  were  very  bad 
characters.  This  led  me  to  adopt  the  plan  of 
writing  to  Mr.  Ewing  (whom  I  did  not  then 
know,)  for  preachers  to  come  down.  My  moth- 
er also  got  a  Sabbath  school,  and  a  serious 
teacher. 

"The  way  I  had  been  myself  received  as  a 
communicant,  and  the  mixture  of  moral  and  im- 
moral, religious  and  irreligious,  without  discrim- 
ination, who  I  saw  were  alike  made  welcome  at 
the  Lord's  table,  by  both  gospel  ministers  and 
careless  ones,  in  the  Church  of  Scotland  and 
the  Church  of  England,  made  me  wonder  great- 
ly. I  questioned  some  of  them  on  the  subject, 
and  asked  them  if  they  did  not  think  it  was  cal- 
culated to  deceive.  Some  said  they  fenced  the 
tables,  and  it  was  at  their  own  peril  if  any  im- 
proper characters  joined.  Others  said  it  was 
vain  to  try  to  keep  back  such,  for  other  ministers 
would  receive  them,  and  if  once  received  by  any 
they  must  ever  after,  or  be  subject  to  censure 
in  church  courts.  Others  said  that  they  might 
be  prosecuted  in  a  civil  court,  if  they  refused  ; 
and  some,  that  they  could  comfortably  sit  with 
a  murderer  on  one  hand,  and  a  drunkard  on  the 


MRS.  EWING.  27 

other,  and  bold  communion  with  God.  As  to 
the  Church  of  England,  I  knew  none  could  be 
kept  back  if  they  chose  to  come,  except  they 
could  be  excommunicated. 

"  When  I  was  led  to  feel  uneasy  on  this  sub- 
ject, on  account  of  some  dear  to  me,  who,  I 
thought,  were  deceived  by  a  round  of  externals 
in  religion,  some  passages  of  my  Bible  struck 
me,  as  teaching  a  different  mode  from  any  I 
knew  of,  for  I  had  not  then  ever  heard  of  any 
person  or  church  who  did.  I  felt  anguish  at  the 
idea  of  my  aiding  in  deluding  any,  after  testify- 
ing to  them  that  they  were  not  building  on  the 
true  foundation  of  hope,  by  seeming  to  unite 
with  them  in  professing  that  we  both  were  be- 
lievers in  Christ.  This  led  me  to  earnest  pray- 
er to  God  for  direction,  and  knowing  all  his  will 
was  to  be  found  revealed  in  his  word,  I  began 
reading  the  New  Testament,  on  my  knees,  en- 
treating the  Lord  to  lead  me  to  see  where  the 
error  was,  and  to  instruct  me  that  I  might  fol- 
low, not  others,  but  be  guided  by  Him. 

"  I  was  much  astonished  to  find  how  much 
bore  on  the  nature  and  duty  of  a  church,  and 
soon  came  to  see  that  it  was  owing  to  the  blind- 
ness of  my  mind  that  I  had  been  so  much  per- 
plexed. The  manner  in  which  the  churches  are 
addressed  by  the  Apostles,  in  the  Epistles,  shows 
what  the  characters  were  who  had  been  receiv- 
ed. Our  Saviour's  directions  to  his  disciples, 
and  the  very  words  of  our  Lord,  when  he  insti* 


28  MEMOIR    OF 

tuted  the  Lord's  supper,  seemed  to  me  an  indu- 
bitable evidence,  that  only  those  who  are  his 
children  by  faith  are  by  him  accounted  fit.  I 
saw  there  were  rules  to  be  followed  that  would 
prevent  unbelievers  being  received  as  such,  and 
rules  by  which,  if  any,  by  hypocrisy  crept  in, 
they  would  be,  on  detection,  excluded.  I  saw 
promises  to  obedience  in  this,  and  threatenings  to 
disobedience.  It  even  appears  that  He  will  per- 
mit some  hypocrites  to  creep  in,  for  the  very 
purpose  of  proving  the  fidelity  of  his  servants. 
When  I  came  to  some  clear  notions  of  what  a 
church  of  Christ  should  be,  I  did  not  know  if 
there  were  any  of  this  description  in  existence, 
and  therefore,  as  from  conscience,  I  could  no 
longer  be  a  member  of  a  mixed  church,  you  may 
guess,  I  was  very  thankful  when  I  found  there 
were  some  who  had  united  on  the  same  princi- 
ples. 

"  Now,  my  reason  for  giving  you  this  history  of 
myself,  is  (as  it  relates  to  my  views  of  a  church,) 
you  speak  of  the  difference  between  an  Episco- 
palian and  Independent,  as  immaterial.  What  I 
have  seen  as  a  part  of  the  will  of  that  God  who 
is  so  wise  as  to  do  nothing  and  require  nothing 
in  vain,  cannot  be  so  accounted  by  me.  And  I 
can  truly  say,  I  have  not  been  swayed  by  the 
piety,  or  talents,  or  learning  of  men  at  all,  either 
in  forming  or  estimating  my  judgment  in  this 
matter.  Indeed,  I  experienced  that,  in  comply- 
ing with  my  convictions,  I  had  all  the  tempta- 


MRS.   EWING.  29 

tions  on  the  other  side — all  my  worldly  friends, 
and  I  must  say,  the  most  of  my  Christian  friends, 
were  much  opposed  to  it.  The  more  I  study 
the  Scriptures,  the  more  I  see  the  effects  of 
scriptural  churches  ;  the  more  I  also  see  of  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  to  his  people  when 
thus  separated,  and  thus  following  all  his  will. 
Though  I  am  thus  avowedly  an  Independent,  I 
feel  no  difficulty  in  loving  all  of  every  sect  and 
name,  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincer- 
ity, and  rejoice  in  joining  with  them  in  every 
act  of  worship,  and  every  thing,  in  which  they 
do  not  unite  with  themselves,  those  who  give 
evidence  they  are  not  one  in  Christ  Jesus. 

"  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  you  after  you 
have  read  this  very  tedious  letter,  which,  from 
want  of  time,  I  have  not  been  able  to  compress. 
You  will  not  criticise  the  style,  but  I  should  like 
to  have  your  observations — how  far  you  go 
along  with  me,  and  where  you  differ.  In  some 
places,  I  dare  say,  my  meaning  may  be  obscure; 
point  this  out,  and  ask  explanation  without  cer- 
emony. It  will  give  me  very  great  pleasure  if  I 
can  be  of  any  use  to  you,  and  perhaps  you  will 
write  with  more  satisfaction  to  me  that  you 
know  more  distinctly  rny  sentiments. 
"  I  remain, 

My  dear  Mrs.  E r, 

Yours  sincerely  and  affectionately, 
13.  Ewing," 


30  MEMOIR    OF 

To  the  above,  I  shall  add  a  short  extract  from 
another  letter,  to  the  same  correspondent,  be- 
cause, although  written  in  great  haste,  and  con- 
taining hints  only,  it  appears  to  me  to  suggest 
what  is  calculated  to  be  useful,  as  well  as  to  il- 
lustrate the  character  of  the  writer. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  E r, 

"  I  have  not  at  present  time  to  enter  fully  into 
the  subject  on  which  we  differ  as  to  justifica- 
tion ;  I  would  refer  you  to  the  Eleventh  Article 
of  Religion  in  your  own  Prayer  Book;  and  when 
we  meet,  I  will  state  how  I  think  James,  in  his 
Epistle,  teaches  the  same  doctrine.  I  very 
much  approve  of  your  endeavouring  to  instruct 
your  servants,  and  think  plain  reading  to  them 
is  an  admirable  means ;  even  if  you  put  good 
books  into  their  hands,  they  read  so  ill  in  gener- 
al as  not  to  understand.  Burder's  Village  Ser- 
mons have  been  very  useful  in  that  very  line. 
There  are  a  few  plain  tracts,  too,  that  I  think 
peculiarly  suited  for  this  purpose  ;  I  will  en- 
deavour to  pick  some  out  for  you  of  those.  1  like, 
and  you  can  read  them  first  yourself.  Besides 
reading,  a  word  or  two  of  personal  address  is 
very  useful — such  as  saying,  before  you  begin, 
that  it  is  with  an  impression  of  the  danger  of 
their  immortal  souls,  if  they  are  without  faith  in 
Christ,  that  you  read  to  them  ;  or,  stopping 
when  you  feel  the  importance  of  any  sentence, 
mid  entreating  them  to  apply  it  to  their  own 


MRS.   EWING.  31 

consciences,  as  they  must  give  an  account  to  God 
for  having  heard  the  word  that  saves  the  soul. 
"  I  write  in  great  haste,  but  you  will  ex- 
cuse it.  May  the  Lord  lead  and  guide  you 
into  all  truth,  and  establish  you  in  the  faith 
and  hope  of  the  Gospel,  and  bless  you,  and 
honour  you  to  gain  the  souls  of  all  those  dear 
to  you,  and  who,  from  being  under  your  roof, 
are  committed  in  a  manner  to  your  care. 
"  I  am, 

My  dear  Mrs.  E r, 

Yours  very  affectionately, 

"  B.  Ewing." 
"4,  Carlton  Place,  15th  JYov.  1821." 

Mrs.  Swing's  superior  talents  and  amiable 
temper  had  been  cultivated  with  every  possible 
advantage  of  education,  not  only  by  her  excel- 
lent governess,  but  by  the  first  masters  in  every 
useful  and  elegant  accomplishment,  both  in  Ed- 
inburgh and  London.  She  had  also  the  best 
opportunities  of  seeing  the  most  polished  socie- 
ty. Her  step-father,  himself  a  man  of  very  pow- 
erful mind,  and  engaging  qualities,  was  in  hab- 
its of  intimacy  with  the  first  people  of  his  day, 
to  whom  he  every  where  proved  a  centre  of  at- 
traction. For  many  years  he  was  almost  con- 
stantly in  parliament,  during  which  his  family 
sometimes  spent  the  winter  in  London ;  and 
there  were  very  few  places  of  note,  or  interest, 
or  general  resort,  in   any  part  of  the  island, 


32  MEMOIR    OF 

which  they  did  not  occasionally  reside  in,  or 
visit,  in  the  other  seasons  of  the  year.  Besides 
the  circle  she  daily  moved  in  at  home,  therefore, 
there  were  many  persons  of  eminence  and  celeb- 
rity, in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  whom  she  had, 
more  or  less,  seen  and  known,  in  her  younger 
days. 

When,  with  these  opportunities  of  improve- 
ment, she  came  to  enjoy  the  renovating  influ- 
ence of  divine  grace,  the  result  was  admirable. 
Her  knowledge  of  the  world,  her  correct  sense 
of  propriety,  her  elegant  manners,  her  powers 
of  conversation  ;  combined  with  a  thorough  ac- 
quaintance with  the  nature  of  the  principles  she 
had  embraced,  and  the  most  conscientious  integ- 
rity, and  affectionate,  modest,  humble  zeal ; — 
these  rare  qualities  added  such  winning  and 
commanding  influence  to  the  example  she  gave 
of  true  religion,  that  its  friends  were  delighted, 
and  its  enemies  often  alarmed.  With  simplicity 
of  heart  she  made  a  solemn  avowal  of  Christian 
principle,  and  adhered  to  it  inflexibly  on  all  oc- 
casions. At  the  same  time,  her  open  profession 
of  the  faith  of  Christ  was  entirely  free  from  mo- 
roseness.  She  was  deeply  serious,  yet  always 
cheerful ;  cheerful  often  to  liveliness,  yet  always 
composed.  She  was  uniformly  decided  in  de- 
clining whatever  she  considered  as  sinful  compli- 
ance ;  but  never  obtrusive  in  urging  on  others 
an  imitation  of  her  practice.  She  sought  no 
one's  countenance,  where  there  was  not  cordial 


MRS.   EWING.  33 

and  acknowledged  union  in  principle.     She  was 
jealous,  lest  partial  friends  should  deceive  them- 
selves, by  an  adoption  of  rules,  which  they  did 
not  really  prefer.     And  if  any  one  encountered 
her  in  the  form  of  an  opponent,  while  she  rose 
superior  to  the  "fear  of  man  which  bringeth  a 
snare  ;"  she  did  not  think  it  desirable  to  provoke 
controversy  about  particular  indulgences  or  re- 
straints,  except   the    foundation    of  repentance 
unto  life  were  previously  laid,  and  the  motives 
to  willing  obedience  duly  enforced,  in  the  faith- 
ful communication  of  the  leading  doctrines  of 
the  gospel.     To  dispute  about  the  former  alone, 
or  in  the  first  instance,  she  called,  a  mere  lopping 
of  the  branches ;  it  was  only,  she  said,  by  means 
of  the  latter,  that,  through  the  blessing  of  God, 
"  the  axe  could  be  laid  to  the  root  of  the  trees." 
None  could  feel  more  keenly  than  Mrs.  Ewing 
did,  under  unkind   treatment,   especially  when 
religion  caused,  or  exasperated,  the  hostility  she 
experienced.     But  if  she  had   poignant   suffer- 
ings, she  also  had  strong  consolations.     In  cases 
of  misunderstanding,  few,  indeed,  could  be  more 
free   from   the   painful  consciousness   of   hav- 
ing intentionally  given  provocation.     Had  she 
dropt  a  hasty  word,  she   was  miserable  till  she 
acknowledged   it,  in   the  most  candid   manner. 
Her  habitual  kindness  made  it  impossible  to 
suppose,  that  she  meant   to  do  any  thing  with 
bitterness.     Disputes  about  temporal  affairs  she 
D 


34  MEMOIR    OF 

settled  with  a  facility,  and  a  nobleness  of  mind, 
which  quashed  them  in  the  commencement,  and 
sometimes  astonished  those  who  had  been  ready 
to  contend  with  her.  If  used  injuriously  on  ac- 
count of  her  zeal  for  the  gospel ;  if  misrepresent- 
ed, or  wounded  in  any  tender  part,  because  of 
her  faithfulness  to  souls,  which  ought  to  have 
met  with  a  very  different  return  ;  she  was  chief- 
ly sorry  for  the  state  of  those,  whose  enmity  was 
against  God,  rather  than  her,  and  could  prove 
injurious  only  to  themselves.  The  strongest 
thing  I  ever  heard  her  say  of  her  own  wrongs 

was — 

"  But  with  my  God  I  leave  ray  cause, 

From  him  I  seek  relief; 
To  him  in  confidence  of  prayer, 

Unbosom  all  my  grief." 

These  lines  I  have  heard  her  repeat,  but  only 
once  or  twice,  and  in  private  confidential  con- 
versation. The  world  never  heard  from  her,  that 
she  had  any  griefs  to  complain  of:  she  always 
gratefully  acknowledged  that  her  trials  were  few, 
and  her  comforts  many  ;  most  cordially  did  she 
comply  with  the  precepts  of  our  Saviour,  as  to 
the  forgiveness  of  injuries,  and  the  love  of  ene- 
mies; for  this,  I  believe,  she  had  a  testimony  to 
the  reality  and  excellence  of  her  religion,  in  the 
consciences  of  some,  who  had  warmly  opposed 
her ;  while  those  who  best  knew  her  had  fre- 
quent occasion  to  be  astonished  and  delighted 
at  the  cordiality  and  zeal  with  which  she  prac- 


MRS.   EWIKG.  35 

tically  evinced  the  forgetfulness  of  injuries,  and 
the  sincerity  of  her  love,  in  every  instance  of  re- 
conciliation, and   even  in  instances   where   no 
apology  had  ever  been  made.     Usually,  indeed, 
she  felt  humbled  to  think  that  she  had  so  little 
of  that  religion,  for  which  others  gave  her  credit, 
while  they  took  offence  at  its  alleged  excess. 
She  was  only  anxious  to  be  preserved  from  any 
compromise   of  principle,  which   might  offend 
God,  injure  her  own  soul,  distress  fellow  Chris- 
tians, and  harden  adversaries  in  unbelief.     As 
to  every  other  view  of  the  subject,  she  manifest- 
ed a  steadfast  faith  in  our  Saviour's  crowning 
beatitude,  and   a  cheerful  compliance  with  the 
exhortation  he  connects  with  it.     "Blessed  are 
they   which   are   persecuted  for   righteousness' 
sake :  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.    Bless- 
ed are  ye  when  men  shall  revile  you,  and  perse- 
cute you,  and  shall  say  all  manner  of  evil  against 
you  falsely  for  my  sake.     Rejoice,  and  be   ex- 
ceeding glad  ;  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heav- 
en :  for  so  persecuted  they  the  prophets  which 
were  before  you."  * 

Here,  again,  I  have  the  happiness  of  letting 
her  speak  for  herself,  in  a  letter  written  by  her 
at  an  early  period,  to  a  young  Christian  friend, 
whose  spirits  were  sinking,  and  whose  health 
was  injured,  in  consequence  of  severe  afflictions 
of  this  nature.     It  breathes  the  tenderest  sym- 


Matthew  v.  10—12. 


36  MEMOIR    OF 

pathy,  and  suggests  the  most  animating  conso- 
lations, while  it  deals  faithfully  and  closely  with 
the  conscience,  and  gives  the  most  appropriate 
and  salutary  practical  advice. 

"  Saturday  night. 

1  My  dear , 

"  I  am  truly  sorry  to  hear  of  your  trials,  and  of 
your  being  unwell,  and  also  of  that  despondency 
of  your  mind,  which  is  of  all  the  most  painful. 
Read  the  51st  of  Isaiah,  especially  the  12th  and 
13th  verses.  *  They  are  addressed  to  those  in 
the  most  distressing  situations,  and  calculated 
to  afford  support  and  comfort.  Your  mind 
seems  full  of  darkness  ;  but  whatever  your  form- 
er attainments  have  been,  it  never  will  be  by 
looking  back  for  evidence  of  your  own  Christian- 
ity that  you  will  find  satisfaction.  Nor  should 
any  view  of  yourself  as  the  chief  of  sinners, 
keep  you  from  attending  the  means  of  grace. 
Jesus  says,  '  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour, 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.' 
Obey  this  gracious  invitation,  and  you  will  find 


*  "  I,  even  I,  am  he  that  comforteth  you  :  who  art  thou, 
that  thou  shouldst  be  afraid  of  a  man  that  shall  die, 
and  of  the  son  of  man  which  shall  be  made  as  grass ; 
and  forgettest  the  Lord  thy  maker,  that  hath  stretched 
forth  the  heavens,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth  ; 
and  hast  feared  continually  every  day  because  of  the 
fury  of  the  oppressor,  as  if  he  were  ready  to  destroy  ? 
and  where  is  the  fury  of  the  oppressor?" 


MRS.  EWING.  37 

that  faithful  is  he  that  promises.  It  is  no  proof 
that  any  are  not  the  Lord's,  that  they  are  afflict- 
ed. 'Whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 
and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth.' 
It  is  through  much  tribulation  that  his  people 
are  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Many 
have  seen  reason  to  bless  God  for  affliction. 
I  would  hope  I  may  say  I  am  one.  Indeed,  God 
does  nothing  in  vain ;  he  does  not  willingly 
grieve  the  children  of  men  ;  and  it  becomes  all 
to  inquire,  wherefore  he  contends  with  them, 
and  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  his  dispensations. 
But  this  we  must  ever  remember,  none  of  them 
can  speak  a  language  contrary  to  Scripture; 
and  God  plainly  declares,  that  he  wills  not  the 
death  of  sinners  ;  yea,  condescends  to  complain 
that  they  will  not  come  unto  him  that  they  may 
have  life.  What  love  is  there  in  this  !  If  you 
have  made  the  greatest  progress  in  the  divine 
life,  it  is  only  by  holding  the  beginning  of  your 
confidence  steadfast  that  you  can  have  peace  and 
joy ;  and  if  you  are  yet  living  without  Christ, 
and  without  God,  still  there  is  a  fulness  in  him, 
and  whoso  cometh  unto  him  shall  in  no  wise  be 
cast  out :  '  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive  ;  seek,  and 
ye  shall  find ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened.' 
None  ever  sought  his  face  in  vain.  But  remem- 
ber, my  dear ,  for  all  those  things  the  Lord 

will  be  inquired  of.  Are  you  as  often  on  your 
knees,  as  you  are  employed  in  ruminating  on 
the  trials  you  are  exposed  to  ?   Are  you  as  earn- 


38  MEMOIR   OF 

est  in  seeking  the  direction  and  assistance  of 
God,  as  you  are  desirous  of  the  sympathy  of 
your  friends  ?  Or  may  what  our  Saviour  says  to 
his  disciples  be  applied  to  you,  ■  Hitherto  ye 
have  asked  nothing  in  my  name.'  But  what 
follows  this— listen  to  it  as  if  now  addressed  to 
yourself;  and  so  it  is,  for  no  Scripture  is  of  pri- 
vate interpretation,  and  most  delightfully  en- 
couraging it  is.  '  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive,  that 
your  joy  may  be  full.'  I  remember  a  text  of 
Scripture  that  was  very  delightful  to  me  in  a 
trying  time,  and  probably  I  have  often  mention- 
ed it  to  you,  '  Be  careful  for  nothing,  but  in  every 
thing  by  prayer  and  supplication,  with  thanks- 
giving, let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God.'  What  an  unspeakable  cause  of  thanks- 
giving, that  we  have  a  God  to  go  to,  whose 
power  and  love  are  so  great,  that  we  need  fear 
nor  want  nothing  if  he  is  ours,  and  who  invites 
us  to  call  upon  him  in  the  day  of  trouble. 

"  I  trust  you  will  be  kept  from  making  sinful 
compliances.  On  the  minds  of  others  they 
would  have  a  bad  effect.  As  for  yourself,  be- 
lieve it,  they  will  have  a  very  baneful  influence  ; 
you  will  lay  yourself  open  to  more  requests  of  a 
like  nature;  and  you  never  can  have  peace 
of  conscience  if  you  do  not  walk  in  the  path  of 
duty.  Do  not  mind  what  is  said  of  you  that 
you  know  to  be  false ;  that  is  what  we  must  ev- 
er expect ;  all  who  make  a  profession  must  ex- 
pect that  cross.    I  beseech  you  to  receive  this 


MRS.    EWING.  39 

not  from  men,  they  are  only  a  second  cause,  but 
from  God ;  he  reigns,  and  has  every  heart  in  his 
has  hand.  This  idea  keeps  us  quiet,  and  pre- 
vents our  feeling  resentments  to  those  whom 
we  view  as  instruments.  We  are  called  to 
adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour  in  all 
things.  I  desire  to  bear  you  on  my  mind  when 
I  am  pleading  for  myself  at  a  throne  of  grace. 
May  the  Lord  keep,  and  guide  you,  and  lead 
you  near  to  himself,  who  is  the  source  of  all 
blessedness,  and  comfort,  and  joy. 

"  I  am,  my  dear , 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

"B.  Ewing." 

While  Mrs.  Ewing  "walked  in  wisdom  to- 
wards those  that  were  without,"  she  exercised  a 
conscientious  forbearance  towards  fellow  Chris- 
tians who  did  not  agree  with  her  on  particular 
questions  of  personal  conduct,  whether  in  Chris- 
tian fellowship  or  in  ordinary  life.  She  never 
declined  to  state  her  own  views  when  inquired 
after,  to  vindicate  them  when  attacked,  or  to 
recommend  them  to  the  examination  of  those 
who  had  not  before  considered  the  subject ;  but 
she  had  a  high  sense  of  the  rights  of  private 
judgment;  she  desired  no  conformity  without 
conviction ;  she  deprecated  a  blind  submission 
to  human  authority  as  offensive  to  God,  disgust- 
ing to  his  people,  and  degrading  equally  to  those 
who  yielded,  and  those  who  required,  or  so 
much  as   allowed  it.     Accordingly,  several  of 


-10  MEMOIR    OF 

her  Nearest  and  most  attached  Christian  friends 
belonged  to  denominations  of  religion  different 
from  that  which  she  had  herself  chosen. 

But  she  was  by  no  means  undistinguishing  in 
her  opinions  either  of  persons  or  things.  She 
never  called  that  a  pure  Gospel  which  could 
leave  rules  of  practice,  whether  public  or  private, 
out  of  the  question.  She  regarded  the  Saviour's 
authority  as  equally  sacred  on  every  subject. 
She  had  the  strongest  possible  conviction  of  the 
importance  of  following  no  human  authority,  in 
observing  the  ordinances  of  Christian  worship 
and  discipline.  She  esteemed  her  teachers  very 
highly  in  love  for  their  works'  sake ;  but  called 
no  man  father  or  master  on  earth.  She  loved 
her  neighbour  far  too  well  to  avoid  telling  him, 
if  she  saw  him  guilty  of  error  or  inconsistency  ; 
and  she  was  not  easily  imposed  upon  by  a 
"holding  of  the  form  of  godliness,"  where  there 
was  a  "denying  of  the  power  thereof." 

In  regard  to  church  government,  she  was  an 
Independent,  approving  of  the  baptizing  of  be- 
lievers and  their  families,  and  of  the  observance 
of  the  Lord's  supper  every  Lord's  day.  She 
was  a  member  first  of  the  church  in  Auldkirk. 
and  afterwards  of  one  of  the  churches  in  Glas- 
gow which  belong  to  the  Congregational  Union 
of  Scotland.  In  the  first  letter  of  hers,  which  is 
inserted  in  this  Memoir,  she  tells  us  how  she 
came  by  her  principles,  namely,  by  "reading  the 
Bible  on  her  knees."    Besides  other  books  al- 


MRS.    EWING.  41 

ready  mentioned,  the  following  may  be  mention- 
ed as  having  stood  high  in  her  favour,  and  as 
particularly  characteristic  of  her  religious  views: 
"Brief  Thoughts  concerning  the  Gospel,  and 
Hinderances  to  believing  it — Dr.Wardlaw  on  In- 
fant Baptism — Mr.  Monro  on  the  same  subject — 
Thoughts  on  the  Lord's  Supper,  by  a  private 
Christian — Russell's  Practical  and  Consolatory 
Letters,  designed  to  illustrate  the  Nature  and 
Tendency  of  the  Gospel — Erskine's  Internal 
Evidence  of  revealed  Religion — Erskine's  Essay 
on  Faith — Orme's  Catechism  on  the  Constitu- 
tion and  Ordinances  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ — 
Orme's  Life  of  Owen — Orme  on  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per— Orme's  Discourses  on  the  Blasphemy 
against  the  Holy  Spirit ;  Divine  Influence,  and 
its  Connexion  with  instituted  Means." 

Having  mentioned  Mrs.  Ewing's  religious  con- 
nexion, it  is  no  more  than  justice  demands  to 
add,  that  I  never  knew  a  brighter  example  of 
one  who  firmly  adhered  to  holy  principle,  and 
powerfully  recommended  holy  principle  by  heav- 
enly temper.  When  she  confessed  her  faith,  it 
was  "speaking  the  truth  in  love,"  that  she 
"  might  grow  up  into  him  in  all  things,  which  is 
the  head,  even  Christ."*  She  "  warred  a  good 
warfare  ;  holding  faith  and  a  good  conscience."! 
But  she  "  did  not  war  after  the  flesh.":):  She  re- 
vered the  authority  and  fulfilled  the  prediction 


*  Eph,  iv.  15.         f  1  Tim.  i.  19.        \  2  Cor.  x.  3,. 


42  MEMOIR    OF 

of  our  Saviour,  in  his  blessed  injunction,  "A 
new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  That  ye 
love  one  another  ;  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye 
also  love  one  another.  By  this  shall  all  men 
know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love 
one  to  another."*  I  am  happy  to  say,  that 
though  eminent  in  this,  Mrs.  Ewing  was  not 
singular.  It  is  sometimes  insinuated,  that  keen- 
ness about  correct  sentiments  is  the  opposite  of 
an  affectionate  disposition.  I  feel  called  upon 
to  bear  my  testimony  from  experience  on  the 
other  side.  I  have  found  those  who  are  most 
deeply  concerned  to  ascertain  the  meaning  of 
every  Scripture  doctrine,  most  eminent  in  the 
exercise  of  brotherly  kindness.  Indifference 
about  the  truth  may  speak  in  a  way  that  shall 
be  very  plausible,  and  very  popular,  but  he  who 
can  be  pleased  with  any  thing  is  attached  to 
nothing.  That  alone  is  the  "bond  of  perfect- 
ness,"  which  the  beloved  disciple  expresses  with 
his  characteristic  fulness  and  precision,  when 
he  says,  "  Whom  I  love  in  the  truth  ;  and  not  I 
only,  but  also  all  they  that  have  known  the 
truth ;  for  the  truth's  sake  which  dwelleth  in  us, 
and  shall  be  with  us  for  evcr."f 

The  following  extracts  of  letters,  written  by 
Mrs.  Ewing  at  an  early  period  of  her  religious 
life,  will  exemplify  at  once  her  natural  affection, 
and  her  Christian  sympathy : — 


John  xiii.  34,  35.  t  2  John  i.  2. 


MRS.    EWING.  43 

"  Edinburgh,  Uth  February,  1799. 

"  My  dear , 

"  We  must  acknowledge  we  know  not  what  a 
day  nor  an  hour  shall  bring  forth  ;  we  cannot 
foresee  impending  misfortunes  ;  and  well  it  is 
we  cannot,  for  it  would  unfit  us  for  duty.  Much 
do  I  sympathize  with  you,  my  dear  girl,  on  this 
bereavement  of  a  very  sincere  kind  friend.  You 
have  been  much  on  my  mind  since  I  heard  this 
morning  of  our  loss  of  our  highly  valued  rela- 
tion. I  know  none  that  will  feel  it  more  than 
you.  I  pray  God  that  it  may  be  sanctified  to  you 
I  hope,  in  taking  away  an  earthly  prop,  he  will 
lead  you  to  lean  upon  his  own  all-sufficient  nev- 
er failing  strength.  Earthly  friends  may  leave 
and  forsake  you,  but  His  truth  and  faithfulness 
endureth  for  ever.  Oh  that  this  may  now  and 
ever  be  your  stay  and  trust.  Such  sudden 
strokes  ought  to  lead  us  to  examine  whether  we, 
if  summoned  as  suddenly  to  the  awful  tribunal, 
are  in  any  measure  prepared.  Have  we  fled  to 
Christ,  in  whose  name  alone  we  can  be  justified  ? 
Is  He  all  our  salvation,  and  all  our  desire  ?  What 
an  important  question !  Our  present  comfort  and 
future  happiness  depend  on  what  we  can  an- 
swer,— our  present  comfort,  because  if  we  are  in 
our  natural  state  of  enmity  against  God,  we 
must  look  on  all  we  meet  with,  as  the  wrath  of 
God  revealed  against  us  as  rebels  with  whom 
he  will  fight,  instead  of  meeting  it,  and  blessing 
the   hand  who  visits  us,  as  the  hand  of  a  kind 


44 


MEMOIR    OF 


Father,  who  in  love  is  chastening  us  to  bring  us 
nearer  to   himself  :— our  future  happiness,  be- 
cause  we  have   nothing  in  ourselves  that  can 
make  us  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God.     By 
nature,  and  a  thousand  actual  transgressions,  we 
are  hateful  to  God,  who  is  of  purer  eyes  than  to 
behold  iniquity,  and  who  will  consign  us  to  ever- 
lasting burnings  if  we  have  not  the  perfect  right- 
eousness of  our  glorious  Redeemer  imputed  to 
us.     To  find   whether  you  have  good   cause  to 
hope  this  is  your  case,  I  refer  you  to  my  last  let- 
ter ;  not  that  I  pretend   to  say  it  will  teach  you 
all  you   should   know,  but  it  is  all  I  can   say  on 
the   subject,   and    may   help   you  a  little.     But 
pray  for  the  teaching  of  the"  Holy  Spirit,  which 
is  the  infallible  teacher.     I  hope,  my  dear   girl, 
you  will  not  give  way  to   violent  grief,  though 
I  don't  desire  you  not  to  feel.     I  hope  you  will 
feel  in  a  manner  to  be  profitable  to  your  soul, 
and  not  injurious  to  your  body.     Were  I  with 
you,  I  might   be  enabled  to  speak  more  to  the 
purpose  ;    however,   I  hope  you  have  comforts 
and  supports   of  a  superior  kind  to   either  my 
conversation  or  letters. 

"I  remain  your  much  attached  friend, 

"Barbara  Maxwell." 

to  the  same. 
"Edinburgh,  Tuesday  Mght,  1799. 

"I  feel  an  interest  beyond  expression  in 

and just  now  ;  that  the  Lord  may  bless  this 


MRS.    EWING.  45 

providence  so  to  them,  that  they  may  afterwards 
have  cause  to  say  it  has  been  good  for  them  to 
be  afflicted.  David  says,  '  Before  I  was  afflicted 
I  went  astray.'  I  think  I  have  myself  experi- 
enced much  benefit  from  having  been  under  the 
smarting  rod,  and  sure  I  am  I  see  many,  many 
instances  daily.  Oh  that  the  Lord,  in  his  good- 
ness and  abundant  mercy,  would  add  them  to 
the  happy  number.  I  hope  too,  my  dear  — 
will  learn  some  useful  lesson  by  being  in  the 
house  of  mourning.  Such  a  distressing  scene 
must  solemnize  the  mind,  and  make  a  strong 
impression.  I  trust  it  will  not  be  of  the  kind 
that   passeth  away  like   the    early  dew  or   the 

morning  cloud.     Believe  me  ever,  my  dear , 

"  Your  affectionate  attachedly 

"B.  Maxwell." 

The  next  letter  was  written  on  the  death  of  an 
aunt,  and  it  comes  under  review  now  with  pe- 
culiar interest ;  because  the  aunt  died,  like  the 
dear  writer,  from^eing  overturned  in  a  carriage, 
and  the  letter  is  addressed  to  her  most  intimate- 
ly connected  cousin,  the  aunt's  only  surviving 
daughter,  who  was  present,  and  most  deeply 
affected,  in  both  cases. 

"  If  it  would  afford  the  smallest  comfort  to 

you,  my  dearest ,  I  might   say  much  of  the 

feelings  of  my  heart  on  this  truly  distressing  oc- 
casion.    But  I  know  by  experience   that  mere 


46  MEMOIR    OF 

human  sympathy  is  vain.  The  Lord  alone  is  a 
Comforter.  Oh  that  he  may  pour  the  balm  of 
consolation  into  your  wounded  bosom  !  Remem- 
ber, my  sweet  girl,  the  Lord  does  not  willingly 
grieve  us.  All  is  in  love.  Whom  the  Lord  lov- 
eth  he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son 
whom  he  receiveth  ;  our  light  afflictions  which 
are  but  for  a  moment,  work  for  us  a  far  more 
exceeding,  even  an  eternal  weight  of  glory.  You 
say,  my  affliction  is  not  light — indeed  it  is  not, 
till  we  take  it  in  a  comparative  view  ;  then  the 
severest  sufferings  of  a  present  life,  appear  noth- 
ing to  that  wrath  we  deserve  as  the  just  punish- 
ment of  our  sins  ;  but  for  a  moment,  too,  in 
comparison  of  eternity,  though  lengthened  out 
to  the  longest  span.  They  are  not  joyous,  but 
grievous,  nevertheless,  they  yield,  or  are  calcu- 
lated to  yield,  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteous- 
ness.    My  prayer  is  that  this  may  be  the  blessed 

effect  of  my  dear 's  present  trial.     I  durst 

not  venture  to  come  to   you,  as  I  gladly  would, 

had  I  been  well,  but  I  trust  mv  dearest will 

be  supported  in  another  way  than  I  could.  Wait 
on  the  Lord,  and  you  will  find  you  shall  not  wait 

in  vain.     Let  me  assure  you,  my  sweet ,  of 

the  tender  affection  of  your  truly  attached 
friend, 

"  Barbara  Maxwell." 

The    last   letter,  which    I  shall   insert  in   this 
place,  is  written  on  a  subject  of  a  peculiarly  try- 


MRS.  EWING.  47 

ing  and  delicate  nature,  and  appears  to  me  to 
treat  it  in  a  manner,  equally  prudent  and  con- 
scientious. It  also  breathes  a  portion  of  the 
spirit  of  ardent  and  devoted  piety,  which  so 
powerfully  glowed  in  the  writer's  bosom  to  the 
last  moment  of  her  life. 

"  Ardgowan,  May  10,  1801. 

'  My  dear , 

"  I  daresay  you  would  be  shocked  at  your  — 's 
death,  and  many  painful  things  suggest  them- 
selves when  we  penetrate  into  the  situation  of 
those  who,  so  far  as  we  know,  die  in  an  uncon- 
verted state  ;  but  we  are  not  called  to  be  judges 
of  others,  and  we  dare  not  limit  the  mercy  of 
God  ;  for  though  his  faithful  word  (of  which,  we 
know,  not  one  tittle  shall  fall  to  the  ground,)  de- 
clares expressly  that  there  is  no  other  method 
of  salvation  but  believing  in  Jesus  Christ,  and 
that  those  who  believe  not  shall  be  damned; 
yet  we  know  not  but  after  ability  to  confess 
Christ  before  men  is  gone,  he  may  be  believed 
on  in  the  heart.  Therefore,  the  call  to  you,  and 
to  me,  is,  in  such  cases  to  ask,  Are  we  ready  ? 
How  would  it  be  with  me,  were  my  soul  called 
to  appear  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ? 
Have  I  indeed  seen  the  impossibility  of  patching 
up  a  righteousness  of  my  own  in  which  I  durst 
appear  in  the  presence  of  God  ?  Have  I  felt  in 
myself  the  truth  of  what  God  asserts  in  his 
word,  that  in  all  things  I  sin  ?   and  have  I  in 


48  MEMOIR  OF 

good  earnest  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the 
hope  set  before  me  in  the  gospel  ?     Oh  what  a 

mercy  it  is,  my  dear ,  that  while  the  Spirit 

of  God  opens  our  eyes  to  see  we  must  despair  of 
hope,  or  help,  in  ourselves,  it  leads  us  also  to 
the  fulness  that  is  in  Christ  our  righteousness. 
We  have  broken  God's  law,  and  are  justly  con- 
demned by  it.  Christ  magnified  the  law,  and 
made  it  honourable,  so  that  we  are  justified  by 
his  blood  who  died  in  our  room.  Yea,  more, 
he  has  received  gifts  for  men,  and  these  gifts 
may  be  comprised  into  grace  here,  and  glory 
hereafter.  That  you  and  I  may  be  partakers  of 
these  great  benefits,  which  include  unspeakably 
more  than  can  be  conceived,  is  my  earnest  prav- 
er.  I  am  glad  you  was  sorry  at  leaving  - — ,  on 
account  of  missing  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  I  hope  you  have  a  real  relish  for  all 
the  ordinances  of  his  appointment.  Tiie  Lord 
can  make  up  this  and  every  disappointment,  and 
when  we  can  appeal  to  him,  who  is  the  searcher 
of  hearts,  that  our  desire  after  any  thing  is  be- 
cause it  is  a  means  of  communion  with  him,  and 
that  nothing  but  a  call  in  his  providence  pre- 
vents our  using  this  means,  we  may  look  up  for 
his  blessulg  without  the  means.  Your  saying 
you  could  part  without  regret  from  all  friends  at 

in  the  prospect  of  seeing  me,  gave  me  no 

pleasure,  because,  I  am  sure,  you  might  receive 
a  thousand  times  more  benefit  to  your  soul  by 
their  example  and  conversation,  than  ever  you 


MRS.    EWING.  49 

could  by  mine  ;  and  this  is  the  real  way  to  value 
every  thing,  not  what  pleases  our  foolish  fan- 
cies, and  prejudices,  and  affections,— where  can 
I  be,  what  can  I  do,  or  say,  or  think,  most  for 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  my  immortal 
soul  ?  is  the  question  to  ask ;  and,  this  in  view, 
we  are  in  the  path  to  happiness. 

"  Believe  me,  my  dear , 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"B.  Maxwell." 

When,  through  the  gracious    providence  of 
God,  I  obtained  that  union  with  the  subject  of 
this  Memoir,  which  proved  the  great  solace  of 
my  life,  and  one  of  the  most  important  advan- 
tages to  my  ministry,  and  to  my  own  soul,  for 
nearly  six-and-twenty  years ;    I  was    aware  of 
her  distinguished  Christianity,  and  of  her  good 
sense,  good  temper,  and  captivating  manners  ; 
but  I  had  no  idea  of  the  number  and  degree  of 
other  valuable  qualities,  in  which  I  was  delight- 
ed to  find  her  so  eminently  excel.     Every  day 
we  lived  together,  I  wasjjsurprised  with  her  ele- 
gant, and  liberal,  yet  judicious  and  effective,  do- 
mestic economy :     her  knowledge  of  business, 
which  not  only  exempted  me  from  all  careful- 
ness  about   my   little   temporal    concerns,    but 
would  have  qualified  her  to  manage  the  affairs 
of  any  establishment,   however    eminent   and 
wealthy ;  her  turn  for  medicine  ;    her  affection- 
E 


50  MEMOIR    OF 

ate  care  of  the  sick  ;  her  ingenuity,  and  unwea- 
ried vigilance,  in  using  means  for  their  comfort 
and  relief;  her  success  in  finding  employment 
for  the  industrious,  and  in  making  provision  for 
the  poor. 

While  she  incurred  no  expense  unnecessarily, 
she  spared  none,  where  the  interests  of  religion 
were  concerried.  She  was  particularly  desir- 
ous that  I  should  purchase  every  book,  which 
could  be  at  all  subservient  to  my  assistance,  in 
the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The  num- 
ber, or  the  price,  was  nothing ;  utility  alone  was 
to  be  considered.  I  need  not  say  how  gratify- 
ing this  disposition  was  to  me ;  how  congenial 
to  my  habits;  how  important  to  any  one  engag- 
ed in  the  duties  of  the  ministry  of  the  gospel ! 
Every  hour  of  the  day,  when  I  betake  myself  to 
my  library  for  instruction,  for  relief,  and  for 
comfort,  it  proves  deeply  affecting  to  recall  the 
interesting  thought,  that  I  was  always  urged  by 
her  whom  I  mourn,  to  extend  the  limits  of  such 
a  valuable  resource. 

What  I  owe  to  my  departed  companion  for 
personal  attentions,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  speak 
of  in  this  Memoir;  for  I  shall  never  be  able,  as 
long  as  I  live,  sufficiently  to  express  it.  But 
iherc  is  one  point,  more  interesting  to  me  than 
any  thing  personal,  on  which,  though  equally 
unable  To  do  her  justice,  I  feel  it  impossible  to 
keep  silence.  She  gave  her  hand  to  one  who 
was  a  widower  and  a  father.     She  became  not 


MRS.     EWING.  51 

only  the  affectionate  wife  to  me,  but  the  moth- 
erly hearted,  the  genuine  parent  of  an  only  child, 
whose  own  mother  had  died  at  her  birth,  and  who, 
being  still  in  a  very  early  period  of  her  youth, 
could  not  know,  far  less  acknowledge  her  obli- 
gations to  her  new  benefactor.     Never  did  moth- 
er pay    more  tender  attentions,  exercise  more 
fostering  care,  display  more  enlightened  judg- 
ment, evince  more  Christian  faithfulness,  or  more 
truly  "  travail  in  birth  again,"  in  the  scriptural 
sense,    "  until  Christ  was  formed  in  her,"  than 
she  did  to  that  child.     In  such  an  undertaking, 
she  could  not  but  have  a  mother's  cares,  and  la- 
bours, and  trials.     I  bless  God  I  am  able  to  add, 
that  she  also  had  a  mother's,  a  Christian  moth- 
er's, reward.     For  years  before  she    died,  she 
had  the  unspeakable  satisfaction  of  seeing  (as 
she  warmly  declared    on  every  occasion,)  the 
most  pleasing  result  of  her  parental  exertions. 
To  her  last  hour  there   existed    not  a   fonder 
mother  for  her  child,  and  her  child's  husband, 
and  their  dear  children! — and  the  filial    reve- 
rence, and  affection,  and  gratitude,    which,  in 
joy  and  in  sorrow,  they  have  cherished  in  return, 
endears  all  parties,  whether  among  the  living  or 
the  dead,  to  the  heavy  heart  of  the  once  more 
widowed  father. 

In  proof  of  the  maternal  kindly  feelings  spok- 
en of  above,  I  insert  an  extract  of  a  letter  from 
Mrs.  Ewing  to  my  daughter,  on  her  return  home 
by  Edinburgh  to  Durham,    after  she  and  her 


52  MEMOIR    OF 

husband  and  two  boys,  had  paid  us  a  visit,  a 
short  time  before  the  birth  of  her  daughter,  who 
is  since  dead.  Other  proofs  of  the  same  kind 
will  be  given  afterwards. 

"  Glasgow,  Sept.  28,  1826, 
"My  dear  Jessy, 

"  Both  your  letter  from  Edinburgh,  and  the 
other  from  Durham,  afforded  us  pleasure,  and 
caused  thanksgiving  to  our  God,  for  his  contin- 
ued care  and  kindness  to  you  and  yours ;  and 
we  trust,  when  you  have  time  to  give  us  your 
Edinburgh  news,  you  will  be  able  to  tell  us  you 
have  not  felt  the  effects  of  the  journey.  For 
you  only  did  we  fear  for  any  after  consequences, 
from  the  very  long  journey  and  fatigue  with  the 
children.  I  need  not  tell  you  we  often  think 
and  speak  of  you,  and  desire  ever  to  remember 
you  in  our  prayers.  Such  an  interview  as  the 
Lord  permitted  us  to  enjoy,  must  increase  our 
interest,  and  that  sort  of  minute  sympathy  in 
each  other's  affairs,  which  correspondence  does 
not  altogether  supply.  Many  things  remind  us 
of  the  children.  Greville's  horse,  with  four  legs, 
still  lies  on  the  gravel  at  Corkerhill,  and  the  pa- 
per house  I  cut  for  him  is  hung  to  an  empty  cot- 
ton bobbin  ;  and  when  the  honey  spoon  is  re- 
moved alter  breakfast,  or  any  sweet  thing 
appears  after  dinner,  then  James's  voice,  and  his 
trot  into  the  room  to  Gan-ma,  is  brought  vividly 
to  mind.     The   parents   are  not  forgot  either, 


MRS.    EWING.  53 

especially  the  gratification  of  seeing  you  con- 
veying to  your  son  the  knowledge  of  that  way 
of  salvation,  which  for  so  many  years  it  was  my 
prayer  to  God  you  might  receive  for  your  own 
soul.  May  you  be  kept  by  His  mighty  power, 
and  enabled,  with  your  husband,  to  abound  in 
the  work  of  the  Lord,  in  your  family,  and  in  the 
station  He  has  placed  you  in,  in  his  vineyard. 
And  if  we  should  never  be  permitted  to  meet 
again  on  earth,  may  we  anticipate  here,  and  enjoy 
hereafter,  a  glorious  and  happy  meeting,  never 
again  to  part  !  Many  kind  inquiries  have  been 
made  for  you,  all  and  sundry,  as  you  may  be- 
lieve ;  and  I  greatly  delight  in  the  thoughts  that 
you  and  yours,  by  this  visit,  have  a  greater  share 
in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  many  of  the  Lord's 
dear  praying  people— in  which  I  place  great 
confidence.  ...  We  join  in  love,  and  kisses  to 
the  dear  boys.     I  am, 

"  My  dear  Jessy, 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"B.   Ewing." 

It  ought  to  be  noticed,  that  Mrs  Ewing  was 
all  her  life  remarkable  for  her  love  to  children 
and  young  people.  Had  she  possessed  the  most 
ample  fortune,  she  would  have  been  inclined,  in 
early  life,  to  have  spent  it  on  feeding  and  cloth- 
ing the  children  of  the  poor.  This  came  to  be 
so  well  understood,  that  it  was  alleged  the  beg- 
gars   sometimes  borrowed    children    from  one 


54  MEMOIR  OF 

another  to  move  her  compassion,  when  a  child, 
by  displays  of  twins,  and  numerous  young  fam- 
ilies. She  soon  became  able  to  detect  imposi- 
tion, and  in  no  case  did  she  do  more  good,  with 
judicious  economy,  than  in  assisting  to  provide 
for  the  young.  But  whether  assistance  was  re- 
quired or  not,  wherever  she  met  with  the  young 
they  attracted  her  regard,  and  she  engaged  their 
attention  and  affections.  She  treated  them  with 
the  most  genuine  and  unwearied  kindness  ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  had  an  excellent  talent  for 
keeping  them  in  order,  superintending  their  ed- 
ucation, and  training  them  to  useful  habits.  Nor 
did  she  ever  cease  to  take  an  interest  in  their 
welfare.  When  religious  principle  was  added 
to  natural  affection,  these  exertions  were  won- 
derfully increased  and  improved.  I  have  reason 
to  believe  she  was  the  spiritual  parent  of  more 
than  one  young  person  ;  and  if  any  have  had 
much  opportunity  of  receiving  her  instructions, 
and  knowing  her  manner  of  life,  without  deriving 
any  religious  benefit,  I  should  fear  they  were  ex- 
amples of  no  common  hardness.  As  a  speci- 
men of  interest  she  felt  in  her  young  friends, 
especially  in  their  spiritual  welfare,  I  subjoin  a 
letter  written  to  a  young  gentleman  on  going 
abroad,  of  which  a  copy  was  taken  by  one  equal- 
ly concerned  for  his  welfare. 


MRS.    EWING.  55 

TO    A    YOUNG    FRIEND    AGOING    ARROAD. 

"April  3d,  1821. 

"My  dear , 

"  Having  watched  over  you  and  your  sister  in 
the  year  of  your  infancy  with  something  of  a 
mother's  solicitude,  I  felt  more  than  I  wished  to 
express  at  the  idea  that  I  should  never  see  you 
again  when  you  took  leave  of  me  to-day.  Most 
sincerely  do  I  wish  you  success  and  comfort  in 
your  worldly  pursuits  ;  but  I  cannot  stop  there — 
my  heart's  desire  is,  and  my  prayer  for  you  has 
been,  from  your  birth,  that  you  may  have  better 
blessings  than  this  world  can  bestow.  Remem- 
ber, my  dear ,  that  in  leaving  this  country, 

where  Bibles  abound,  where  the  gospel  is 
preached,  and  where  you  have  had  many  proofs 
of  its  transforming  influence  on  the  character  of 
those  around  you  who  believe  it,  you  cannot 
leave  your  responsibility  for  what  you  have  en- 
joyed of  this — you  may  be  far  away  from  any 
who  will,  either  by  word  or  look,  expostulate 
with  you,  if  you  forget  or  deride  these  things 
among  those  who  do  so.  But  He,  who  is  to  be 
our  Judge,  he  made  the  eye,  shall  he  not  see  ? 
He  made  the  ear,  shall  he  not  hear  ?  He  formed 
the  heart,  and  knows  the  very  thoughts  and  in- 
tents of  it.  This  is  not  revealed  to  tease  us 
unnecessarily,  but  to  awaken  us  to  prize  peace 
with  God  above  all  other  things.  There  is  only 
one  way  of  enjoying  that,  which  the  Bible  teach- 


56  MEMOIR    OF 

es  us,  is  by  coming  to  God  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  '  Whoso  cometh  unto  him,  he 
will  in  nowise  cast  out.'  'He  that  believeth  in 
him  shall  never  perish,  but  shall  have  everlasting 
life.'  And  godliness  is  profitable  for  the  life  that 
now  is,  as  well  as  that  which  is  to  come.  None 
are  really  safe  and  happy  but  those  who  have 
God  for  their  friend — who  has  all  power  in 
heaven  and  in  earth — and  taste  and  see  that  God 
is  good;  and  blessed  are  all  those  who  put  their 
trust  in  him.  As  in  all  human  probability  I  shall 
never  have  another  opportunity  of  addressing 
you  in  this  world,  as  I  shall  be  in  my  grave 
before  you  return,  I  wish  you  to  consider  this 
as  the  dying  testimony  of  one  who  loves  you. 
May  the  Lord  watch  over  you  and  bless  you, 
and  cause  the  light  of  his  countenance  to  shine 
upon  you,  through  all  your  wanderings  in  this 
world,  and  grant  you  a  place  at  his  right  hand, 
where  are  pleasures  for  evermore,  when  time 
shall  be  no  more,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 

"  My  dear , 

"  Your  sincere  friend, 
"  Barbara  Ewing.'" 

"  Accept  the  little  book  I  send  along  with  this 
as  a  token  of  regard,  and  read  it  for  my  sake." 

But  let  us  enter  a  wider  field.  Let  us  survey 
the  purity,  the  fervour,  the  piety,  and  the  benev- 
olence  of  her   Christian   zeal.      Her   thoughts 


MRS.  EWING.  57 

and  labours  by  day  and  night,  her  chosen  theme 
of  animated  conversation,  and  indefatigable  cor- 
respondence, might  all  be  considered  as  the  ac- 
companiment of  these  sublime  petitions  :  "  Hal- 
lowed be  thy  name  ;  thy  kingdom  come ;  thy  will 
be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven."  For  missions 
to  the  heathen,  and  the  propagation  of  the  gospel 
at  home  ;  for  the  opening  of  sabbath  schools  ;  for 
the  increase  of  scriptural  Christian  churches  ;  for 
the  Congregational  Union  of  Scotland ;  forthe  en- 
couragement of  the  ministers  of  it,  in  all  their  pas- 
toral and  all  their  itinerant  labours  ;  for  the  edu- 
cating of  their  children,  and  the  support  of  their 
widows  ;  for  their  own  support  both  in  health 
and  sickness  ;  and  forthe  means  of  training  oth- 
ers, like  minded,  to  succeed  to  the  labours  of  pre- 
decessors, or  to  increase  the  number  of  fellow-la- 
bourers, and  to  enlarge  the  sphere  of  exertion  ;  for 
any,  or  all  these  objects,  nay,  for  all  objects  of  a 
similar  nature,  her  heart  and  hands,  her  prayers 
and  means,  her  influence  with  others,  as  well  as 
her  personal  efforts,  were  always  so  quickly, 
easily,  and  successfully  brought  to  bear,  that  she 
constantly  reminded  me  of  her  family  motto,  "  I 
am  ready,"  or  rather  of  the  language  of  the 
apostle,  "  ready  to  every  good  work."* 

Soon  after  the  association  of  the    Congrega- 
tional Union  of  Scotland,  to  assist  the  smaller 


Tit.  iii.  1. 


58  MEMOIR   OF 

and  poorer  churches  in  supporting  their  pastors, 
and  defraying  other  expenses  incident  to  the 
propagation  of  the  gospel,  and  the  maintenance 
of  its  institutions,  it  appeared  very  desirable  to 
form  a  fund  for  our  ministers'  widows,  and  for 
superannuated  ministers  themselves.  But  it 
was  evident,  that  where  the  numbers  were  so 
few,  it  could  not  be  raised,  or  supported  by  the 
rates  of  payment  alone  which  could  be  demand- 
ed from  the  parties  immediately  concerned. 
Among  other  means  of  aiding  the  scheme,  Mrs. 
Ewing,  at  the  suggestion  of  her  niece,  Mrs.  Stir- 
ling, engaged  fifteen  ministers  to  contribute  one 
sermon  each,  to  a  volume  of  sermons,  to  be  pub- 
lished by  subscription,  for  the  benefit  of  this 
widows'  and  ministers'  fund.  While  these  were 
in  the  press,  she  made  application  in  all  quarters 
in  England  and  Scotland,  for  subscriptions  for 
the  volume  ;  and  with  the  assistance  of  some 
kind  friends,  whose  aid  she  solicited,  she  was 
able  to  dispose  of  the  whole  impression,  without 
the  agency  of  a  single  bookseller,  within  a  very 
few  months  after  it  was  printed ;  and  she  had 
thus  the  satisfaction  of  procuring  for  the  fund 
the  clear  profit  of  £418  :  0  :  lOd.,  besides  giving 
the  authors  an  opportunity  of  preaching  the  gos- 
pel to  many  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  to 
whom  they  could  not  have  otherwise  had  ac- 
cess. 

It  was  a  mutual  comfort  to  Mrs.  Ewing  and 
me,  that  during  our  married   life,  we  were  sel- 


MIIS.   £W1N0.  .59 

dom  separated ;  but  she  never  grudged  my  ab- 
sence, when  it  was  occasioned  by  calls  of  evan- 
gelical duty.  Most  cordially  did  she  consent  to 
my  repeated  journies  to  England  to  attend  the 
anniversary  meeting  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  and  the  auxiliary  anniversary  meetings 
at  Hull  and  Chester ;  also  to  engage  in  a  tour 
in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  with  a  visit  to  Cam- 
bridge, and  one  to  Leicester,  on  my  return,  to 
preach,  and  to  make  collections  for  the  Congre- 
gational Union;  to  various  parts  in  Scotland 
also,  as,  at  one  time,  a  tour  in  Stirlingshire,  at  an- 
other, in  the  Highlands  of  Perthshire,  and  again, 
round  the  east  coast,  as  far  as  Inverness. 

But  travelling  having  been  at  last  recommend- 
ed for  Mrs.  Ewing's  health,  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  her  form  a  plan,  by  which  we  might 
pursue,  at  the  same  time,  her  personal  benefit, 
and  the  object  increasingly  dear  to  her  heart, 
the  promoting  of  the  work  of  God  in  different 
places  by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  From  that 
period,  she  and  her  cousin,  who  staid  with  us,  ac- 
companied me  for  a  portion  of  some  successive 
seasons,  in  various  excursions  for  these  united 
purposes.  One  of  these  in  Ayrshire,  Dumfries- 
shire, and  Galloway,  carried  us  to  the  extremity 
of  the  south  of  Scotland.  Another  season,  we 
went  a  still  more  extensive  journey,  through  sev- 
eral parts  of  the  North,  till  we  reached  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  county  of  Caithness. 


GO  MEMOIR    OF 

I  never  saw  any  person  so  truly  happy  as  my 
beloved  wife  was  during  these  journies.  Be- 
sides quantities  of  tracts,  which  she  distributed 
on  the  road,  she  sewed  numbers  of  them  in 
small  volumes,  to  be  left  with  pastors  and  Sab- 
bath-school teachers,  for  lending  to  the  people 
of  their  charge,  or  others  in  the  neighbourhood. 
She  delighted  in  daily  opportunities  of  public 
worship,  hearing  the  gospel  preached  in  desti- 
tute and  sequestered  places,  visiting  the  church- 
es, conferring  with  the  pastors,  and  other  Chris- 
tian friends,  on  all  their  encouragements,  and 
all  their  trials,  and  suggesting  additional  means 
of  usefulness.  A  conveyance  was  always  in  at- 
tendance, but  she  was  an  excellent  walker.  It 
was  an  exercise  essential  to  her  health  ;  and  she 
went  along  so  easily  and  lightly,  as  never  to  be 
heated,  far  less  fatigued.  She  loved  to  see  me  go- 
ing with  my  brethren  in  their  usual  style  of  labour. 
With  a  walking  party  she  could  enjoy  much  more 
conversation.  Although  in  crowded  roads,  there- 
fore, and  long  journies,  or  when  limited  in  time, 
she  submitted  to  proceed  more  privately  and  rap- 
idly ;  yet  she  no  sooner  got  into  those  parts  of 
the  country  where  daily  opportunities  of  preach- 
ing might  be  obtained  within  the  distance  of  a 
stage,  than  she  proceeded  on  foot.  I  have  known 
her  walk  eighteen  miles  in  a  day ;  all  the  while 
maintaining  the  most  useful  conversation,  quite 
alive  to  the  exercises  of  public  worship  in  the 
evening,  and  ready  to  start  at  any  hour  next 


MRS.  EWING.  €1 

morning  to  pursue  a  similar  course.  In  one  of 
these  journies,  she  walked  above  eighty  miles  in 
this  manner,  and  returned  home  full  of  health 
and  spirits,  and  more  interested  than  ever  in  the  . 
propagation  of  the  gospel.  I  cannot  express 
how  much  her  company  cheered  me  in  my  itin- 
erant labours  ;  while  the  acquaintance  she  form- 
ed with  persons  and  places,  rendered  her  subse- 
quent extensive  correspondence  eminently  and 
permanently  useful  to  many  of  our  brethren. 

It  required  not,  however,  the  excitement  of 
travelling  to  draw  forth  her  interest  in  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  in  all  the  ordinan- 
ces of  Christian  fellowship.  She  was  a  steady,, 
humble,  affectionate,  and  zealous  member  of 
the  church  of  Christ,  first  at  Auldkirk,  and  then 
at  Glasgow.  She  had,  from  first  to  last,  a  strong 
and  growing  sense  of  the  importance  of  stated 
public  worship,  purity  of  communion,  non-con- 
formity to  the  world,  and  the  acknowledgment 
of  no  authority  in  sacred  things,  but  that  of 
Christ,  as  expressed  in  his  own  word.  Ever 
since  I  knew  her,  the  Christian  exercises  of  the 
Lord's  day  were  her  highest  enjoyment  in  life ;. 
and  a  silent  Sabbath  was  the  bitterest  ingredient 
in  the  cup  of  her  affliction. 

In  the  year  of  1824  we  had  a  very  interesting 
journey  to  London,  taking  Durham  and  Cam- 
bridge in  our  way,  at  each  of  which  places  wet 
staid  a  few  days.  The  immediate  object  was,  to 
make  collections  for  the  funds  of  the  Congrega- 


62  MEMOIR    OF 

tional  Union  of  Scotland,  especially  to  aid  their 
operations  in  the  Highlands  and  Islands.  We 
accordingly  made  collections  at  Cambridge,  in 
many  chapels  of  London  and  its  neighbourhood, 
and  at  Sheffield  on  our  return.  We  had  also  an 
opportunity  of  attending  the  solemnities  of  Mr. 
Orme's  settlement  at  Camberwell  ;  an  event 
which  we  deplored  as  a  loss  to  Scotland,  while 
we  believed  it  would  turn  out,  as  indeed  it  has 
done,  to  the  furtherance  of  the  Gospel.  We 
had,  in  the  course  of  this  journey,  much  blessed 
intercourse  with  many  old  Christian  friends,  as 
well  as  with  many  whom  we  had  never  seen  be- 
fore ;  and  Mrs.  Ewing  was  particularly  struck 
with  the  contrast,  on  revisiting  the  great  metrop- 
olis, as  the  residence  of  so  many  who  were  em- 
inent for  piety  and  usefulness,  which  she  had 
formerly  known  chiefly  as  the  centre  of  at- 
traction to  the  great  and  the  gay  world.  In  a 
letter  to  my  daughter,  dated  Hackney,  28th  of 
October,  1824,  she  says,  "  Our  heavenly  Father 
adds  much  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  people  by 
the  love  he  inspires  them  with  to  one  an- 
other. We  are  here  in  this  city  experiencing 
much  of  this.  O  how  strikingly  different  are 
the  pleasures  now  afforded,  to  those  so  called, 
which  I  was  so  intoxicated  with  when  a  girl  here* 
Many  of  the  places  I  see,  and  pass  by,  I  trust, 
awaken  gratitude  to  God  for  his  mercy  in  de- 
livering me  from  ignorance  as  dark  as  heathen- 
ism." 


MRS.    EW1NG. 


G3 


These  journies  enlarged  the  sphere  of  her  cor- 
respondence to  a  very  great  degree.  She  had 
known  many  ministers  of  the  gospel,  from  the 
time  they  had  studied  for  the  ministry  at  Edin- 
burgh, or  Glasgow ;  and  not  a  few  of  whom  had 
been  students  in  the  Theological  Academy,  be- 
longing to  our  own  connexion.  On  seeing  many 
of  them  in  their  pastoral  charges,  and  getting 
acquainted  with  their  families,  and  their  situa- 
tion, various  communications  seemed  desirable, 
on  both  sides,  for  promoting  plans  of  usefulness. 
Her  correspondence  with  the  ministers  of  the 
Congregational  Union  became  general  and  con- 
stant. The  increasing  labour  of  it  she  was  in- 
defatigable in  sustaining  ;  and  she  despatched 
it  with  a  celerity  which,  in  some  degree,  coun- 
terbalanced its  increase.  Nor  did  she  confine 
herself  to  ministers  at  home.  Some  of  our  stu- 
dents had  gone  abroad  as  missionaries,  with 
whom  she  maintained  (as  they  gratefully  con- 
fess) a  more  regular  correspondence,  and  one 
conveying  more  interesting  information,  than 
most  of  the  other  acquaintances  they  had  left  in 
this  country.  Her  letters  never  degenerated  in- 
to common-place  remark  ;  but  always  turned  on 
real  business,  or  proposals  of  practical  utili- 
ty, for  which  her  resources  seemed  never  to  fail ; 
and  the  success  with  which  she  was  rewarded 
often  reminded  me  of  our  Saviour's  reproof; 
"O  thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou 
doubt?" 


64 


ME. VOIR    OF 


Every  year,  she  had  the  pleasure  of  attend- 
ing the  annual  meeting  of  the  Congregational 
Union  of  Scotland  alternately  in  Edinburgh  and 
Glasgow.  On  these  occasions,  which  occupy 
two  days,  there  is  a  Sermon  in  the  evening  of 
the  first,  a  prayer-meeting  next  morning  before 
breakfast,  a  Sermon  in  the  middle  of  the  day, 
and  a  meeting  in  the  evening,  at  which  the  Re- 
port of  the  Committee  is  read,  and  several  min- 
isters and  other  members,  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  address  the  audience.  Mrs.  Ewing 
greatly  enjoyed  the  mass  of  religious  intelli- 
gence brought  forward,  and  the  harmony  and 
brotherly  love,  and  joy  and  'sympathy,  manifest- 
ed at  these  meetings ;  and  although  she  had  not 
always  sufficient  strength  to  attend  the  prayer- 
meeting  in  the  morning,  yet  she  felt  the  great- 
est delight  in  it  when  she  could  attend,  and  a 
most  lively  interest  in  its  exercises,  even  when 
she  could  not  be  personally  present. 

Besides  this  anniversary  season  of  enjoyment, 
on  account  of  what  was  going  on  in  her  own 
religious  connexion,  she  took  an  active  part,  in 
occasional  calls  for  exertion,  and  in  plans  of 
general  co-operation  among  Christians.  She 
zealously  engaged  in  a  sale  of  Ladies'  work  in 
Glasgow,  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the  Glasgow 
City  Mission,  and  superintended  one  of  the  ta- 
bles at  that  sale.  She  officiated,  along  with  sev- 
eral friends,  in  the  same  way  at  Edinburgh,  in 
April  1827,  at  a  sale  of  Ladies'  work  made  there, 


MRS.    EW    ING. 


65 


to  assist  in  promoting  the  gospel  in  the  High- 
lands and  Islands  of  Scotland  by  itinerant 
preachers  and  teachers,  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  Gaelic  language.  A  sketch  of  the  la- 
bours of  the  ministers,  supported  from  the  pro- 
ceeds of  that  sale,  has  since  been  circulated, 
and  the  ladies  who  conducted  it  have  requested 
the  aid  of  their  friends,  and  all  interested  in  the 
Highland  itinerancies,  towards  another  sale  for 
the  same  object  in  March,  1829,  for  which  Mrs. 
Ewing  was  making  preparation  at  the  time  of 
her  death,  and  remembered,  as  we  shall  see,  in 
her  last  hour ;  and  which,  I  hope  and  pray,  the 
Lord  may  countenance  and  bless,  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  others  who  remain,  although  their 
willing  associate  has  been  removed. 

Amidst  all  the  occupations  of  a  truly  public 
spirit,  my  dear  partner  was  strongly  attached  to 
the  habits  of  private  domestic  life.  Attention 
to  relative  duties,  she  was  always  ready  to  pay, 
whether  at  home  or  abroad  ;  but  neither  health 
nor  inclination  admitted  of  her  going  much  into 
company.  She  formed  few,  but  very  ardent  and 
faithful  friendships.  To  all  the  interests  of  her 
friends  she  was  quite  as  attentive  as  if  they  had 
been  her  own  ;  most  ingenious  in  finding  oppor- 
tunities and  means  of  serving  them  ;  highly 
gratified  with  every  service  they  rendered  to  her, 
or  at  her  request  to  others  for  whom  she  had 
made  application.  Kind  and  thoughtful  consid- 
ration  of  others,  before  herself,  was  indeed  one 


66 


MEMOIR    OF 


of  the  most  prominent  features  in  her  character. 
She  delighted  to  observe  their  usefulness ;  she 
rejoiced  in  their  honours  ;  and  stood  firmly  by 
them,  when  she  saw  them  unjustly  assailed  with 
reproach.  She  was  especially  observant  of  the 
providential  dispensations,  which  they  were 
called  to  experience.  No  one  ever  more  truly 
exemplified  obedience  to  the  Christian  precept ; 
'  Rejoice  with  them  that  do  rejoice,  and  weep 
with  them  that  weep.'  Neither  change  of  place, 
nor  distance  of  time,  could  diminish  her  attach- 
ments. These  it  was  impossible  to  satisfy  by 
personal  intercourse.  Hence,  a  very  great  en- 
largement of  her  daily  correspondence.  Had 
the  communications  of  private  friendship  alone 
comprised  the  whole  of  her  letter-writing,  it 
would  have  been  wonderfully  abundant ;  she 
enters  so  minutely  into  circumstances,  in  most 
of  those  letters,  as  to  render  them  unfit  for  pub- 
lication ;  but,  when  they  can  with  propriety 
appear,  they  are  peculiarly  interesting.  There 
is  a  simplicity,  a  cordiality,  a  cheerfulness,  and 
a  tenderness,  which  marks  them  as  a  most  ac- 
curate transcript  of  genuine  character,  and  of 
real  life.  The  two  following  letters  were  writ- 
ten to  one  of  her  oldest,  and  dearest  Christian 
friends,  on  the  death  of  her  husband,  after  a 
very  short  illness. 


MRS.    EWING.  67 

"  Glasgow,  8th  Feb.  1825. 
"  My  beloved  Friend, 

"  You  will  not  count  as  an  intrusion,  an  ex- 
pression of  the  deepest  sympathy  from  one  whom 
you  have  allowed  so  large  a  share  of  your  kind- 
ness and  confidence  for  so  many  years.  I  know 
in  like  circumstances  you  would  feel  for  me 
what  I  felt  for  you  this  morning.  My  thoughts 
have  not  been  many  moments  diverted  from  you 
and  yours  since  the  post  brought  the  notifica- 
tion for  which  I  was  wholly  unprepared.  My 
ignorance  of  all  particulars  unfits  me  to  write,  or 
even  to  know  how  to  think.  How  cheering  to 
contrast  the  knowledge  of  your  best,  and  kindest, 
and  most  sympathizing  friend.  He  who  has  ap- 
pointed every  part  of  your  lot  knows  every  cir- 
cumstance, every  feeling,  and  can  suit  his  glori- 
ous consolations  to  the  most  trying  points  of  ev- 
ery sorrow.  Blessed  be  God,  you  know  to 
whom  to  go,  as  a  very  present  help  in  every 
trouble,  and  can  plead  his  promise  to  answer 
your  prayers,  and  enable  you  to  glorify  his  name. 
I  earnestly  hope  your  health  will  not  be  over- 
powered, but  that  strength  according  to  your 
day  will  be  granted,  and  that  the  Lord  will  hon- 
our you  to  bear  a  testimony,  by  your  conduct 
and  lips,  that  shall  powerfully  convince  all,  and 
particularly  your  own  children  and  family,  that 
the  God  whom  you  serve  is  '  Love ;'  and  proves 
this  in  times  the  most  trying  both  to  faith, 
and  to  flesh  and  blood.         I    am    sure     you 


68 


MEMOIR    OF 


will  (as  soon  as  you  can  think  of  it)  devise  some 
means  to  relieve  my  anxiety  about  your  dear 
self  and  your  two  daughters  ;  next  to  yourself 
I  dread  their  suffering  in  their  health.  I  am 
sure  it  will  be  your  prayer  and  theirs,  in  which 
we  shall  assuredly  unite  with  you,  that  this  dis- 
pensation may  be  blessed  to  your  dear  son,  the 
sister  and  brother  too  ;  but  I  feel  I  ought  to  stop. 
As  soon  as  I  hear  I  will  write  again  to  my  dear 
friend  ;  in  the  meantime  my  husband  and  Jane 
desire  to  unite  with  me  in  kindest  and  most 
sympathizing  regards  to  you  and  yours,  and  in 
prayers  that  you  all  may  experience  that  tribu- 
lafion  worketh  patience,  experience,  and  hope 
that  maketh  not  ashamed — the  love  of  God  be- 
ing shed  abroad  in  your  hearts  abundantly. 
"  I  am, 

My  very  dear  friend, 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

"  B.  Ewing. 
"  I  have  been  confined  for  ten  days  with  a 
rheumatic  attack,  but  am  better,  and  was  out  to- 
day for  a  quarter  of  an  hour." 

"  Polloc,  23d  Feb.  1825. 
"  My  very  dear  Friend, 

"I  feel  extremely  gratified  and  obliged  for 
your  very  kind  letter  of  the  17th,  which  I  only 
received  day  before  yesterday.  I  hope  you  will 
know  that  it  was  detained,  and  not  think  I  have 
been  so  long  in  acknowledging  it.     The  day  I 


MRS.   EWING.  oy 

got  it  I  was  fully  occupied,  for  I  had  to  visit 
three  families  in  affliction,  and  had  some  friends 
to  dine  with  us,  and  we  left  Glasgow  yesterday 
morning  at  ten,  and  came  round  by  Corkerhill 
to  get  some  advance  made  in  preparation  to  get 
there  as  soon  as  possible,  before  coming  here, 
where  we  spent  last  week,  and  where  we  shall 
remain  till  Friday.  I  was  truly  glad  to  see  your 
own  handwriting,  and  desire  to  give  thanks  for 
all  the  comfort  your  letter  contains.  The  stroke 
has  been  sudden  and  solemn,  and  the  Lord 
knows  and  wills  that  such  things  must  be  deeply 
felt,  but  he  has  granted  a  number  of  mercies  to 
be  mixed,  that  I  trust  my  dear  friend  now  feels 
and  acknowledges,  and  which  may  be  matter  of 
everlasting  praise.  That  your  own  beloved 
daughter  should  have  been  honoured  to  testify 
the  grace  of  Christ  and  lift  up  her  soul  in  prayer 
at  such  a  time,  and  under  such  circumstances, 
must  have  been  joy  to  your  soul  under  the  deep- 
est grief.  Her  father's  expressing  his  wish  she 
should  not  leave  him,  too,  must  have  inspired 
a  hope,  which  the  efficacy  of  Divine  grace,  and 
the  sovereignty  of  Divine  power,  proves  our  war- 
rant to  cherish.  You  must  be  sensible  how  im- 
portant it  was,  the  faculties  of  the  mind  being 
entire  ;  for  it  is  much  more  frequent  that  in  cases 
of  such  rapid  termination  it  is  far  otherwise.  I 
notice,  and  sympathize  with  you  in  what  you 
say  of  conscious  failure  in  duty  to  your  hus- 
band's soul.     We  cannot  part  with  any  friend 


ro 


MEMOIR    OF 


Without  feeling  we  have  come  short  either  by 
precept  or  example,     O  that  every  admonition 
thus  received  may  stir  us  up  to  renewed  activity 
and  increased  prayer,  that  God  may  enable  us 
to  redeem  the  short  period  of  remaining  strength 
granted,  to  his  glory  and  the  good  of  every  soul 
we  have  access  to !      This  is  the  true  way  to 
evince  our  regret  for  what  may  have  been  defi- 
cient in  the  past.     I  often  think  it  is  a  device  of 
Satan  to  divert  from  present  duty  by  unavailing 
grief  for  what  we  cannot  recall,  and  his  end  is 
gained  as  much  by  too  much  as  too  little  feeling 
on  the  point;  and  the  former  has  so  much  the 
semblance  of  great  devotedness   to  God,  that  it 
deceives  better,  and  lulls  conscience  asleep.     I 
never  saw  any  thing  like  this  in  you  ;   but  I  see 
so  much  of  it,  that  I  am  sure  you  will  not  be  dis- 
pleased with  my  stating  my  sentiments  on  the 
subject  to  you. 

"I  shall  address  this  to  Edinburgh,  as  you 
wrote  you  was  to  spend  some  days  this  week 
with  your  daughter;  I  feel  pleased  to  think  of 
your  now,  while  I  am  writing  you,  enjoying  the 
solace  of  her  society.  It  was  a  great  relief  to 
me  to  hear  she  had  not  suffered  in  her  health. 
You  say  nothing  particular  of  either  yourself  or 

J a,  but  I  trust  both  are  as  well  as  I  wish 

you,  both  in  soul  and  body.  I  hope  when  you 
can  think  of  it,  you  will  make  it  a  part  of  your 
plan  to  give  us  a  share  of  your  time.  Remem- 
ber, my  very  dear  friend,  no  one  has  coveted 


MRS.   EWING.  71 

more  or  had  less  of  your  society  during  the  last 
twenty  five  years.  We  wish  to  go  soon  to  the 
country,  but  cannot  exactly  fix  our  plans,  as 
Mr.  Ewing  is  under  engagement  to  preach  a 
Sabbath  soon  in  Edinburgh,  and  as  I  have  pro- 
mised Mr. to  pay  him  a  visit  to    see  my 

grandnieces  and  nephew  before  they  leave 
Heriotrow.  I  plan  making  my  time  to  suit 
either  this  engagement  of  Mr.  Ewing's,  or  the 
Congregational  Union  Meeting,  when  I  know 
when  that  will  be.  Whenever  it  is,  I  shall  look 
forward  to  seeing  you,  and  hearing  when  you 
will  be  able  to  come  to  us.  You  bid  me  tell  you 
particularly  about  my  health ;  I  have  been 
greatly  better  last  week  and  this — I  had  a  very 
sharp  bilious  attack,  which  at  first  put  on  the 
appearance  of  inflammation,  and  then  a  very  bad 
cold,  with  so  much  rheumatism  in  my  head, 
and  feverishness,  that  I  was  reduced  both  in 
flesh  and  strength  ;  but  I  am  now  making  up 
quickly. — By  the  first  opportunity,  I  shall  have 
the  pleasure  of  sending  you  the  Service  of  Mr. 
Orme's  settlement  at  Camberwell,  at  which  Mr. 
Ewing  having  had  a  part,  you  will  not  wonder 
I  like  you  to  see  it,  as  I  always  have  that  desire. 
"  We  expect  a  Deputation  from  the  Irish 
Evangelical  Society  this  week  in  Glasgow,   and 

hope  we  shall  have  Mr. for  our  lodger  ;  I 

think  you  heard  and  liked  him  when  in  Edin- 
burgh two  years  ago. 


72  MEMOIR    OF 

"  Miss  C.  and  Mr.  E.  unite  with  me  in  kindest 
and  best  wishes  to  you  and  yours  ;  and,  I  am, 
"My  very  dear  friend, 

"Your  truly  affectionate  friend, 
"B.  Ewing." 

For  several  years,  we  spent  the  summer  in  the 
country,  on  account  of  Mrs.  Ewing's  health. 
We  always  got  a  situation  so  near  Glasgow,  as 
to  admit  of  my  attending  my  usual  duties  to  the 
church,  and  the  academy ;  and  while  I  could 
pursue  my  private  studies  with  less  interruption, 
the  health  of  both  was  benefited,  and  my  dear 
companion  at  once  enjoyed  her  beloved  retire- 
ment, and  maintained  a  more  extensive  corres- 
pondence than  ever  with  friends  at  a  distance. 
For  the  last  four  years,  she  felt  herself  particu- 
larly happy  in  having  got  our  summer  quarters 
on  a  farm  belonging  to  her  brother,  with  the 
place  of  her  birth  in  view,  her  native  fields  to 
range  in,  and  her  nearest  relatives  within  a  few 
minutes'  walk.  It  had  been  her  lot,  from  her 
infancy,  to  reside  in  remarkably  fine  situations. 
She  had  been  accustomed  to  all  the  beauties 
and  sublimities  of  our  picturesque  country. 
These  she  thoroughly  understood,  and  keenly 
relished,  and  was  early  favoured  to  enjoy  with  a 
purifying  and  enhancing  influence,  not  unknown 
to  any  who"  are  taught  of  God.  But  to  return 
to  the  beautiful  and  classic  grounds  of  the  place 
of  her  nativity,  where  every  spot  was  connected 


MRS.    EWING. 


73 


with  some  dear  and  early  association  ;  to  gather 
honey  suckles  and  roses  in  places  which  she  re- 
cognized  as  the  walks  and  rides  of  her  child- 
hood and  youth  ;  to  go  from  field  to  field,  where 
she  was  accustomed  to  see  the  game  springing 
and  starting  before  her;   to  visit  the  Rannan, 
and  the  Avenue,  and  the   old  gigantic  Elms,  and 
the  Majestic  Wood  which   towers  above  the  gar- 
den, and  the  Shaw-holm,  and  the  Sheep-park,  and 
Bangor's -hill,  and  Crookston  Castle;    nay,  even 
within  what  we  called  our  own  premises,  to  pur- 
sue daily  the  more  homely  paths  along  the  plough- 
formed  ridges,  or  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Cart, 
or  to  the  top  of  the  Corker-hill;  to  mark  the  ag- 
ricultural operations  of  the  season,  the  progress 
of  the  crops,  the  swells  of  the   undulating  sur- 
face   of    the    neighbourhood,    the    far-stretch- 
ing vales,  the  immense  ramparts  of  the  border- 
ing hills,  and  the  peaks  of  the  distant  moun- 
tains in  every  direction :— all  this  gave  exquisite 
delight:    I  shall  ever  cherish  the  recollection  : — 
but  often   it  overwhelms  me  to  see  her  nimble 
gait,  to  hear  her  lively  talk,  to  think  of  her  con- 
versation,  at  all  times  so  superior  on  every  sub- 
ject, and  never  more  so  than  with  a  family  par- 
ty, or  with  her  friend  alone  ;  to  recollect  many 
an  advice,  many  a  kind  entreaty,  many    an  en- 
couraging hope,  which  she  faithfully  tendered  : 
yes,  and  many  a  song  of  joy,  many  a  hymn  and 
psalm  of  praise,  which  her  clear  liquid  voice,  and 
G 


74  MEMOIR    OF 

her  affectionate  ardent  spirit,  compelled  me  at 
once  to  admire,  and  humbly  to  accompany  !  I 
see,  but  the  form  vanishes ;  I  hear,  but  the  sound 
dies  away ;  I  cannot  answer,  for  she  waits  not 
my  reply ;  I  cannot  sing,  for  the  effort  deprives 
me  of  utterance,  and  sometimes  almost  of  the 
power  of  respiration !  One  thing,  however, 
comes  to  my  relief.  I  never  heard  her  speak  as 
if  there  was  any  place  which  she  could  not 
leave,  or  any  friend  from  whom,  at  God's  com- 
mand, she  could  not  consent  to  be  separated,  at 
least  for  the  present  life.  She  was  pleased  with 
her  lot,  but  she  confessed  herself  a  stranger, 
and  a  pilgrim  on  earth.  While  she  adored  the 
Creator,  she  bowed  to  the  righteous  sentence, 
which  hath  made  the  creature  subject  to  vanity. 
She  knew  how  frail  we  are ;  she  admired  divine 
workmanship  in  the  humblest  wild  flower  that 
caught  her  eye, — yet  the  sun  in  the  firmament 
could  not  tempt  her  to  forget  that  all  these 
things  shall  be  dissolved.  She  was  ever  ready 
to  console  herself,  and  to  animate  me,  with  the 
Christian's  triumph:  "Nevertheless  we,  ac- 
cruing to  his  promise,  look  for  new  heavens, 
and  a  new  earth,  wherein  dwellcth  righteous- 
ness."- 

The  following  letter,  written  to  the  same  dear 
friend  as  the  two  preceding  ones,  when  we  had 
just  removed  to  the  country,  for  the  last  time, 


2  Peter  iii.  13. 


MEMOIR    OF 


75 


will,  in  some  measure,  exemplify  the  details  I 
have  given. 

"  Corkerhill,  Uth  May,  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Friend, 

"I  have  seated  myself  to  ohey  you,  in  writing 
you,  the  very  first  moment  I  could  seize,  since 
receiving  your  very  kind  note  of  Saturday's 
date,  which  I  did  on  Monday ;  but  that  was  a 
day  of  very  great  bustle,  as  we  were  leaving 
Carlton-place,  not  again  to  sleep  there,  while 
the  smell  of  the  painting  of  Mr.  Ewing's  study 
continued, — and  yesterday  was  fixed  down  with 
business  I  could  not  let  stand  another  day.  The 
unfavourable  weather  has  been  much  against 
my  dear  husband,  who  is  still  feeling  his  chest, 
and  occasionally  coughing,  though  he  has  been 
once  or  twice  a  clay  without  coughing  ;  he  has 
been  at  other  times  very  poorly,  and  in  a  fever- 
ish, sleepless  state.  On  the  whole,  I  do  dope  he  is 
gaining  strength  by  country  air  and  exercise, 
and  on  Friday  at  the  church  meeting,  on  Sabbath 
both  parts  of  the  day,  he  was  so  very  animated, 
his  people  will  hardly  believe  he  is  yet  so  poor- 
ly. Our  surgeon  has  begun  him  with  a  new 
medicine,  to  which  I  trust  the  Lord  may  give 
more  efficacy  than  to  any  former  one,  though 
he  seems  to  think  the  advance  of  the  season, 
and  the  pure  air  here,  is  the  only  thing  that  will 
restore  him.  Jane  has  had  a  sore  throat,  but  has 
never  confined  herself  for  it,  and  it  is  nearly 
gone  she  says.     I  have  been  much  in  my  usual 


76  MEMOIR    OF 

way,  not    very  stout,  and  not  very  ailing;    at 
least,  not  so  as  to  confine  me  to  the  house. 

"  In  spite  of  the  cold  air,  the  country  is  look- 
ing lovely.  The  gean  trees,*  and  birches,  look- 
ing very  gay  in  the  copse  woods,  and  the  apple 
blossoms,  shewing  their  blushing  beauties  either 
open  or  budding.  Many  of  our  shrubs  round 
our  bird's  nest  here,  are  full  of  flowers  ;  and  the 
country,  generally  green,  now  looks  so  much 
more  clothed,  I  wish  you  could  see  it.  How 
beautiful  God  makes  this  world,  in  spite  of  all  its 
sinfulness !  What  will  that  paradise  above  be, 
where  there  shall  be  nothing  to  hurt  or  destroy, 
where  shall  flow  rivers  of  pleasure  for  ever- 
more !  I  am  glad  to  find  you  read  Orme's  Dis- 
courses, I  liked  them  so  much.  We  are  in 
hopes  of  a  visit  from  him.  I  have  written  to 
entreat  him  to  take  some  relaxation  from  his 
very  great  labours,  and  give  us  the  benefit  of  his 
company,  which  we  greatly  prize,  whilst  he  vis- 
its Glasgow.  He  is  a  most  delightful  compan- 
ion. If  he  preaches  in  Edinburgh,  I  will  let  you 
know,  as  one  seldom  sees  such  a  union  of  talent 
and  fervent  piety,  and  scriptural  research  and 
simplicity.     We  join  in  love  and  kindest  respects 

to  you  and  your  daughter,  and  Miss ,  when 

you  see  her;  and  believe  me, 

"  My  very  dear  friend, 
"  Yours  affectionately, 

"  B.  Ewing." 


The  wild  cherry. 


MRS.     EWING.  77 

I  shall  add  one  more  letter  to  this  beloved 
correspondent,  the  perusal  of  which  has  been 
most  deeply  affecting  to  myself.  The  reader 
will  not  wonder  at  this,  when  I  copy  the  memo- 
randum prefixed  to  it  by  the  affectionate  pos- 
sessor. "  The  last  letter  I  ever  received  from 
her  who  is  now  in  glory.  Dear,  kind,  lamented 
friend,  O  to  join  you,  at  the  day  of  the  Lord !  " 
There  is  also  the  touching  complaint  of  declin- 
ing strength ;  the  felt  burden  of  increasing  la- 
bour ;  her  concern  for  my  health,  and  the  poor 
state  of  her  own  ;  yet  her  sympathy  with  all  her 
companions  in  tribulation,  with  one,  soon  after 
left  a  widow,  and  with  a  young  Christian,  op- 
posed in  the  path  of  duty  by  her  own  father ; 
her  delight  in  the  success  of  our  itinerating 
ministers ;  her  confidential  detail  of  avocations 
which  she  never  expected  should  meet  the  eyes 
of  the  public  ;  and,  amidst  all  her  laborious  let- 
ter-writing, the  length  of  this  hasty  letter  to  her 
friend,  of  which,  ample  as  they  are,  I  give  ex- 
tracts only  ;  it  seems  as  if  she  could  not  short- 
en, however  pressed  for  time,  the  communica- 
tion to  so  dear  a  friend,  although  she  could  have 
no  conception  that  it  was  to  be  her  last. 

"  Corkerhill,  30th  July,  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Friend, 

"  Our  letters  so  often  cross  on  the  road,  that 
it  would  not  be  easy  to  ssy,  who  should  write 
next  if  we  felt  any  ceremony :  but  that  not  being 


78  MEMOIR    OF 

the  case,  I  often  feel  when  I  begin  to  write, 
that  there  is  some  hope  you  may,  at  the  very 
same  time,  be  wielding  your  pen  for  my  behoof! 
I  meant  to  have  written  sooner,  but  I  am  one 
way  or  other  kept  so  busy,  that  my  intentions 
are  generally  delayed  by  the  circumstances  of  the 
day,  till  when  I  do  make  an  effort  extraordinary, 
and  open  the  letter  that  is  to  be  answered,  the 
first  thing  that  strikes  me  is,  the  old  date  of  it. 
But  instead  of  apologies,  which  would  require 
to  be  made  every  time,  I  hope  you  will  always 
believe  the  will  is  never  wanting  to  keep  up  a 
close  correspondence,  but  the  power.  And  that 
is  decreasing,  both  from  age  unfitting  me  for  so 
much  exertion,  and  the  additional  time  that  it 
requires  to  go  over  my  correspondents'  letters 
from  their  increase.  The  succession  of  students, 
and  their  going  to  different  fields  of  labour, 
causes  two  or  three  new  ones  every  year.  Then 
you  know  there  are  numerous  tilings  beyond  our 
own  family,  and  our  own  circle,  that  I  am  called 
to  take  a  share  in.  You  will  have  an  instance 
of  this  along  with  this  very  epistle.  I  send  you 
the  little  account  printed  of  the  itinerancies 
which  were  supported  from  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale.  You  will  see,  that,  as  another  is  proposed 
next  spring  in  Edinburgh,  I  have  had  a  few  lines 
to  write  to  each  of  the  hundred  and  fifty  sent 
to  me  for  distribution,  and  besides  these  few 
lines  for  general  use,  I  have  on  hand  a  number 
of  letters  to  write  to  such  as  I  wish  to  beat  up 


MRS.    EWING.  79 

in  their  vicinity  for  contributions  towards  it.     By 

a  letter  from  Mr.  S ,  in  which  he  tells  me  he 

is  carrying  up  H di  to  see  you,  I  find  you  are 

returned  to  Edinburgh.     I  wish  much  to  hear 

how  poor  Mrs.  C is,  and  if  she  has  now  any 

intention  of  going  to  London  for  a  consultation. 

I  hope  to  hear  colonel  H has  recovered  this 

recent  fit  of  illness,  and  that  his  wife  has  been 
supported  under  the  anxiety  she  must  have  suf- 
fered. I  can  sympathize  with  her  from  the 
state  of  my  dear  husband  was  in  for  months.  I 
hope  I  may  speak  of  it  now  as  the  past.  He 
certainly  is  very  much  better,  and  I  even  think 
gaining  a  little  of  his  lost  flesh  and  strength. 
May  the  Lord  keep  me  from  forgetting  the 
threatening,  and  enable  us  to  praise  him  with 
our  hearts,  and  lips,  and  lives.     1  was  surprised 

at  you,  my  dear  friend,  going  into  Mr.  B 's 

place  of  worship,  after  learning  the  dangerous 
state  it  was  in.  I  think  such  rashness  is  not 
trusting,  but  tempting  Providence.  And  I  am 
persuaded  Mr.  B.  has  the  good  sense  to  teach  his 
people  this,  and  therefore  I  trust  you  will  not 
again  be  in  such  danger. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  state  J a's 

friend  in  the  north  is  in,  but  hope  the  Lord  will 
show  her  her  privilege  in  enduring  persecution, 
and  keep  her  from  falling.  If  she  continues  to 
hunger  and  thirst  after  these  things,  she  will 
soon  see,  that  she  must  obey  even  a  father,  only 
so  far  as  she  can  by  obeying  God  also  ;  and  if 


80  MEMOIR   OF 

she  is  enabled  to  act  consistently,  she  will  find, 
in  pleasing  God  she  will  make  even  her  enemies 
to  be  at  peace  with  her.  In  being  induced  from 
any  fear  to  forsake  the  assembling  with  the  peo- 
ple of  God,  which  is  a  direct  injunction  of  God's 
own  word,  loss  will  be  suffered  individually, 
and  that  light  extinguished,  which  God  calls  for 
to  enlighten  others  in  a  knowledge  of  our  God 
and  Saviour.  I  hope  my  friend  J-— a  will 
faithfully  call  her  to  attend  to  this,  and  that  the 
Lord  will  honour  her  in  thus  delivering  her  own 
soul,  to  lead  her  friend  to  comfort  and  enjoy- 
ment of  the  blessing  of  God,  and  to  extend  that 
blessing  to  all  around.  He  who  calls  us  to  en- 
dure, is  faithful  and  true,  and  will  cause  the 
Wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,  and  restrain  the 
residue. 

"  You  bid  me  say  how  I  am  in  health  myself. 
The  late  hot,  thundery  weather  has  had  its  usu- 
al effect  on  my  bilious  system,  and  I  have  been 
obliged  to  resort  to  medicine  more  than  for  ma- 
ny months.  As  yet,  I  have  avoided  calomel, 
and  hope  to  do  without  it.  I  have  never  been 
confined  an  hour  to  my  bed,  or  a  day  to  the 
house,  so  that  I  have  much  cause  for  thankful- 
ness. 

"  I  think  I  have  answered  all  the  queries  in 
your  letter,  and  I  could  fill  my  sheet  with  many 
gladsome  accounts  I  have  had  from  our  minis- 
ters, who  have,  in  all  directions,  been  making 
the  gospel  sound  in  the  ears  of  their  fellow  sin- 


MRS.    KWING.  81 

ners,  and  where  they  have  seen  somewhat  of 
the  fulfilment  of  God's  promise,  that  his  word 
shall  not  return  to  him  void.  But  I  have  four 
other  letters  to  write,  and  timo  will  not  admit, 
especially  as  I  have  my  sweet  widowed  friend, 

Mrs.  S ,  staying  with  me,  and  she  leaves  me 

on  Friday.  Indeed,  you  will  have  had  your 
eyes  tired  with  the  length  of  this.  We  join  in 
love  ;  and  I  am,  my  very  dear  friend, 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"  B.  Ewing." 

As  I  must  soon  approach  the  closing  scenes 
of  my  Memoir,  I  shall  here  give  three  specimens 
more  of  my  beloved  wife's  correspondence. 
They  are  taken  from  among  her  latest  letters  to 
my  daughter,  and  have  already  been  promised.* 
Ttje  first  was  written  soon  after  our  return  from 
our  last  visit  to  Durham.  Mrs.  Ewing  had  been, 
more  than  usual,  in  an  ailing  way.  It  was 
thought  a  jaunt  might  be  of  service,;  and  wo 
were  both  desirous  to  see  my  daughter,  after 
the  birth  of  her  third  child.  To  render  the 
journey  more  easy  and  interesting,  we  planned 
going  by  a  new  route,  making  short  stages,  and 
forming  a  few  itinerant  engagements  by  the 
way.  Accordingly,  I  preached  at  Peebles,  Ha- 
wick, and  Kelso,  in  going;  and  at  Newcastle, 


*  See  p.  52. 
H 


82  MEMOIR  OF 

Berwick,  and  Portobello,  in  returning  ;  at  each 
of  which  places  we  stopped  for  the  night.  We 
set  out  on  the  25th  of  Sept.  and  returned  on  the 
12th  of  Oct.  1827.  On  our  return,  we  had  very 
bad  weather,  and  Mrs.  Ewing  suffered  much 
from  illness,  both  in  the  journey,  and  after  we 
got  home.  She  was  greatly  pleased,  howev- 
er, with  the  visit  to  Durham.  It  gave  us  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  the  dear  little  girl,  whom 
we  should  not  have  otherwise  seen  in  this  world, 
because,  though  then  in  perfect  health,  she  was 
in  the  spring  carried  off  by  a  hooping-cough  ; 
the  Lord,  we  believe,  having  taken  her  to  him- 
self. We  had  also  much  satisfaction  in  behold- 
ing the  Christian  temper  and  deportment  of  our 
young  friends,  in  the  midst  of  their  rising  fami- 
ly, and  in  the  place  of  their  residence  ;  and  es- 
pecially the  growing  usefulness  of  the  pastor, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  church  under  his  care. 
These  topics  are  all  referred  to  in  the  follow- 
ing letter  to  Mrs.  Matheson  ; 

"  Glasgow,  24ft  Oct  1827. 
"  My  dear  Jessy, 

"I  did  not  think,  when  we  parted,  that  so  long 
a  time  would  elapse  before  I  wrote  you — but  we 
know  not  what  a  day  or  an  hour  may  produce. 
1  rose  earlier  on  Monday  week,  with  the  hope 
and  desire  that  I  should  begin  the  letter,  Which 
your  father  had  to  write  altogether.  There  was 
so  much  to  do,  it  was  with  difficulty  I  got  in 


MRS.    EWLVG,  Oo 

time  to  the  boat, — and  that  I  may  say  was  my 
last  exertion.  I  had  felt  my  throat  slightly  on 
Sabbath,  and  was  not  at  all  well  on  Monday, 
but  thought  Corker-kill  air  and  quietness,  would 
set  all  to  rights.  Instead  of  this,  I  became 
worse  and  worse,  and  suffered  very  great  pain 
with  the  rose  in  my  head,  face,  and  neck,  which 
fevered  me.  I  am  now  greatly  better,  though 
the  swelling  is  not  quite  gone,  and  I  am  very 
feeble.  Some  people  say,  thus  all  the  ben- 
efits of  your  journey  is  lost.  But  how  do  we 
know,  but  that  for  the  strength  gained  by  the 
journey,  my  frame  could  not  have  stood  this  at- 
tack ?  This  I  know,  the  Lord  granted  me  very 
great  enjoyment;  and  though  in  all  things  I 
come  short,  I  think  I  may  say,  filled  me  with 
gratitude,  for  what  I  saw  of  his  goodness  and 
grace  to  you  and  yours.  My  mind  recurred  to 
it  in  many  a  painful,  sleepless  hour,  and  I  trust 
it  will  tune  a  song  of  praise  beyond  the  limits 
of  this  vale  of  tears.  When  I  contrast  my  fears 
and  anxieties,  and  prayers  and  tears,  on  your  ac- 
count, with  what  the  Lord  has  now  done  in  you 
and  for  you,  I  see  his  ways  and  thoughts  are  not 
as  ours.  As  to  temporal  things,  that  even  is  cause 
of  much  thanksgiving  compared  with  many;  but 
especially  when  I  see  you  devoted  to  His  ser- 
vice, and  honoured  to  minister  to  the  comfort 
of  one  whom  his  Master  is  owning  so  much  as 
a  faithful  labourer  in  his  vineyard.  May  the 
Lord  hear  prayer  for  a  blessing  on  your  training 


84  MEMOIR   OF 

your  dear  children  for  him.  I  know  and  syilr* 
jpathize  in  your  travailing  in  birth  again  for 
them,  till  Christ  be  formed  in  their  hearts,  and 
you  have  had  more  advantages  than  I  had  of 
•knowing  how  to  instruct  and  impress  their 
minds,  having  been  entirely  without  early  cul- 
tivation myself.  I  also  know  you  will  feel  with 
me,  that  the  highest  motive  to  have  them  in 
subjection  is,  to  restrain  them  from  sinning 
against  God.  I  am  delighted  to  see  such 
warmth  of  affection  in  Greville.  This  will 
give  you  a  stronger  hold  than  any  thing  in  the 
world,  for  he  is  high  spirited.  And  if  you  study 
to  be  firm  with  him,  you  will  gain  by  example, 
considerably  on  James.  I  am  sensible  you  have 
improved  since  you  were  in  Scotland,  and  that 
you  will  find  the  benefit  more  and  more,  both  to 
your  own  comfort  and  their  happiness.  I  often 
think  I  see  the  group  of  interesting  little  faces. 
A  pious  wife  seems  to  me  peculiarly  necessa- 
ry for  a  minister.  May  you  and  I  be  honoured  to 
help  the  faith  and  joy  and  spirituality  of  our  dear 
partners,  and  we  shall  receive  the  benefit  even 
to  our  own  souls,  under  their  ministry.  We 
unite  in  love  to  you,  Mr.  Matheson,  and  the 
f'ljiidren :  and  I  am, 

"  My  dear  Jessy* 

"Your  truly  affectionate, 

"  B.  Ewitf g." 


MRS.    EWING.  85 

Notwithstanding  the  serious  illness  mention- 
ed in  the  preceding  letter,  Mrs.  Ewing  ventur- 
ed to  take  an  active  part  in  the  sale  of  ladies* 
work  for  the  City  Mission.  Of  this  some  ac- 
count will  be  found  in  the  next  letter,  together 
with  a  description  of  the  manner  in  which,  with 
the  aid  of  some  dear  friends,  we  spent  the  anni- 
versary of  our  marriage,  which  proved  to  bo 
the  last. 

"  Glasgow,  16th  Nov.  1827. 
"  My  dear  Jessy, 

"I  am  happy  to  say  your  father  is  almost  welL 
I  have  got  quite  the  better  of  my  last  illness, 
and  stood  the  fatigue  of  the  sale  wonderfully. 
We  had  three  days  of  it.  And  next  week,  on 
Wednesday,  we  are  all  to  make  an  effort  to  sell 
off  the  whole."  Then  follows  a  list  of  the  sums 
already  drawn,  from  which  it  appeared  the  total 
was,  at  that  time,  £549 :  0  :  Id.  "  I  did  not  for- 
get your  working  society,  and  shall  send  you 
some  things  for  it,  which,  though  trifling,  may 
be  patterns ;  and,  as  I  do  not  think  you  will  be 
able  to  do  much,  may  be  a  substitute  for  your 
deficiency.  I  shall  delay  sending  them  till  I 
hear  from  you,  in  case  you  wish  any  little  thing 
that  is  best  got  here. 

"We  had  a  very  delightful  party  here  yester- 
day, of  our  most  particular  friends,  to  unite 
with  us  in  giving  thanks  to  our  gracious  God, 
for  all  his  goodness  and  mercy,  during  a  quarter 


86  MEMOIR    OF 

of  a  century  that  we  had  been  spared  together. 
It  was  our  marriage  day."  (After  mentioning 
the  names  of  the  party,  she  proceeds.)  "  You 
may  be  sure  you  and  yours  were  not  forgotten ; 
and  Mr.  Matheson,  and  his  flock  and  congrega- 
tion, were  duly  remembered  also  in  our  prayers 
and  thanksgivings.  May  all  the  unmerited  good- 
ness, and  long  continued  kindness  of  the  Lord 
to  us  and  ours,  lead  to  more  zeal  and  devoted- 
ness  in  all  of  us,  and  this  will  assuredly  increase 
our  happiness.     Our  worthy  member,  old  Mrs. 

W n,  has  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus.     Her  latter 

end  was  truly  peace.  She  retained  her  facul- 
ties, and  her  enjoyment  of  spiritual  things, 
throughout.  Indeed,  she  had  no  complaint,  just 
wore  away  from  weakness.  I  am  very  happy 
the  lady  you  spoke  of  liked  'Brief  Thoughts.'* 
I  do  not  know  any  thing  clearer  on  the  subject 
of  the  hinderances  to  believing  the  gospel.  We 
join  in  love  to  you  and  your  fireside ;  and  I  am, 
"  My  dear  Jessy, 

"Yours  very  affectionately, 

"B.  Ewing." 

In  the  course  of  the  winter,  Mr.  Matheson's 
three  children  were  seized  with  hooping-cough, 
which  proved  fatal  to  the  youngest,  Catherine 
Lawson,  in  the  beginning  of  March. 

The  following  is  the  letter  which  Mrs.  Ewing: 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Matheson  on  that  occasion: 


See   page  41. 


MRS.    EWING.  87 

"  Glasgow,  11th  March,  1828. 
•*  My  dear  Jessy, 

"  I  feel  it  no  small  cause  of  thanksgiving  that 
37ou  know  where  and  to  whom  to  go  in  this  time 
of  trouhle,  and  that  you  could  tell  us  you  found 
the  Lord  a  very  present  help  on  the  very  day 
you  had  seen  your  sweet  bahe  close  her  eyes  on 
time.  We  do  indeed  serve  a  good  Master,  and 
the  blessed  and  glorious  hope  given  in  the  gos- 
pel of  life  and  immortality,  must  cheer  the  heart 
even  while  flesh  and  blood  feels  deeply  and 
keenly.  I  am  sure  either  you  or  Mr.  Matheson 
will  write  us  again  soon,  for  you  will  know  how 
much  you  occupy  our  thoughts  at  present.  We 
trust  the  Lord  supported  and  carried  you 
through  the  trial  and  duties  of  Wednesday.  It 
is  pleasant  for  us  to  know  you  are  in  the  midst 
of  kind  and  sympathizing  friends,  and  above 
all,  to  know  that  you  have  the  care  and  sympa- 
thy of  Him,  who,  in  all  our  afflictions,  is  af- 
flicted. You  will  probably  before  this  have  got 
the  parcel  which  I  sent  off  without  having  time 
to  write,  and  you  will  also  have  got  my  letter, 
sent  in  the  last  frank  I  got  before  my  nephew 
went  away.  I  hope  we  shall  hear  the  dear 
boys  continue  in  a  mild  way;  the  season  is 
greatly  in  their  favour,  though,  till  within  these 
two  days,  it  has  been  very  cold  east  wind  with 
us  ;  but  the  season  is  advancing,  and  I  hope  will 
soon  be  fine.  This  will  be  also  in  your  father's 
favour  I  trust,  for  he  is  still  ailing,  I  am  sorry  to 


MEMOIR    OF 


say.  My  friend,  Mrs.  T r,  and  her  daughter- 
are  with  us  ;  they  go  for  three  days  to  Ayrshire 
next  week,  and  these  we  hope  to  spend  at  Cor- 
kerhill;  they  and  we  will  meet  on  Friday,  and 
then  I  hope  the  following  week,,  when  they 
leave  us,  we  shall  get  permanently  to  the  coun- 
try, which  the  doctor  thinks  will  be  of  great  use, 
and  I  am  sure  we  shall  have  your  prayers,  and 
those  of  many,  that  that  may  be  the  blessed 
means  of  restoring  him  to  health,  and  ability  for 
usefulness;  for  he  is  very  unwilling,  even  now, 
to  spare  himself  as  much  as  we  all  think  he 
should.  He  has  agreed  not  to  go  out  to-night, 
and  only  to  lecture  on  Sabbath.  His  cough  has 
not,  on  the  whole,  been  so  troublesome  for  some 
days,  especially  in  the  night,  and  he  slept  better 
last  night  than  for  three  nights  before ;  but  at 
times  he  feels  flat  and  unwell,  and  then  at  other 
times  he  is  as  lively  in  expounding  or  prayer  as 
you  ever  saw  him.  You  must  excuse  the  short- 
ness of  this.  We  join  in  kindest  love  and  good 
wishes.  Many  have  been  the  kind  inquiries, 
and  kind  wishes  expressed  for  you.  I  made  the 
intimations  I  thought  you  would  wish,  here,  but 
suppose,   as  you   said   nothing    of    Edinburgh 

friends,  Mr.  M ,  took  charge  of  that. 

"I  am, 

My  dear  Jessy, 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

"B.  EwimgJ* 


MRS.    EWING.  0^ 

Mrs.  Ewing's  active  life  was  the  more  remark- 
able, that  she  was  exceedingly  liable  to  violent 
indispositions.  She  must  have  had  an  excellent 
constitution;  she  possessed  great  muscular 
strength  ;  she  required  extraordinary  exercise, 
and  was  always  the  better  of  taking  it  in  the 
open  air,  and  in  the  country.  But,  when  living 
in  town,  especially  if  confined  by  bad  weather  to 
the  house,  she  experienced  many  of  the  distress- 
ing symptoms  of  a  bilious  tendency,  which  not 
only  overpowered  her  at  the  time,  but  reduced 
her  frequently  to  a  state  of  great  and  alarming 
debility,  from  which  she  did  not  easily  or  speed- 
ily recover.  At  one  period  she  had  such  a  troub- 
lesome and  obstinate  cough,  that  it  was  feared 
her  lungs  were  in  danger,  but  happily  that  fear 
proved  to  be  groundless.  At  another  period,  she 
was  very  often  afflicted  with  dreadful  headachs  ; 
and  afterwards,  when  these  became  less  severe, 
and  occurred  at  greater  intervals,  they  were  suc- 
ceeded by  very  serious  indications  of  liver  com- 
plaint. Yet,  in  all  these  illnesses,  while  inured 
to  severe  pain,  she  was  never  subject  to  depres- 
sion of  spirits-  Whether  it  should  be  ascribed 
to  bodily  temperament,  or  strength  of  mind,  or 
Christian  hope,  and  divine  consolation;  or 
whether  we  should  gratefully  acknowledge  a 
happy  union  of  all  these  blessings,  the  fact  is 
unquestionable,  that  she  enjoyed  a  wonderful 
buoyancy  to  bear  her  up  under  trouble,  and 
never  more  than  when  it  threatened  to  prove 


90  MEMOIR    OF 

fatal.  Her  invincible  patience,  and  fortitude, 
and  cheerfulness,  seemed  equal  to  repel  the  most 
formidable  assaults  of  disease,  and  really  to  ope- 
rate as  a  principle  of  restoration.  Of  late  years, 
indeed,  she  had  been  gradually  getting  so  much 
better  on  the  whole,  that  we  were  beginning  to 
hope  for  a  greater  stability  of  health  in  the  de- 
cline of  life,  than  she  had  ever  known  before. 
How  far  our  fond  hopes  might  have  been  realiz- 
ed, it  has  been  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
that  wre  should  not  discover. 

The  reader  will  have  learned,  from  some  of 
the  preceding  letters,  that  my  health  had  been 
in  a  rather  declining  state  from  the  beginning  of 
the  winter  of  1827.  In  the  following  spring, 
our  medical  friends  advised  my  getting  soon  to 
the  country,  and  trying  change  of  air  and  scene, 
as  much  as  possible,  in  the  course  of  the  sum- 
mer. This  led  Mrs.  Ewing  to  take  every  op- 
portunity of  carrying  me  from  home.  We  ac- 
cepted a  kind  invitation  to  visit  some  friends  in 
Arran.  We  made  an  excursion  to  Loch-Lo- 
mond, and  finally  to  the  Falls  of  Clyde.  And  I 
feel  it  to  be  one  of  the  bitter  ingredients  in  the 
cup  of  my  sorrow,  that  my  beloved  companion 
seems  to  have  fallen  a  victim  to  her  ardent  de- 
sire to  complete  the  re-establishment  of  my 
health. 

Writing  after  the  event,  I  feel  it  difficult  to 
believe  that  any  of  the  circumstances  which  pre- 
ceded it  were  not  gloomy  and  ominous.     Cer- 


MRS.   EWING.  91 

'tainly,  it  befell  me  in  a  year  crowded  with  oc- 
currences of  awful  visitation.  My  eldest  sister, 
my  youngest  grand-child,  my  only  remaining 
brother,  were  removed  by  death  within  three 
months  after  its  commencement ;  and  harvest 
was  not  over,  when  the  Lord  "  took  away  from 
me  the  desire  of  mine  eyes  with  a  stroke."* 
There  were  no  doubt  bright  days  that  summer, 
and  pleasant  scenes  too  which  heighten  by  con- 
trast the  succeeding  distress.  My  departed  friend 
greatly  enjoyed,  and  zealously  improved  each 
cheering  interval.  But  her  survivor  feels,  as  if 
he  had  yielded  to  a  spirit  of  delusive  security,  and 
dangerous  infatuation.  His  mind  was  easy  as 
to  this  world,  supposing  his  "help-meet"  would 
take  care  of  him,  and  his  affairs,  all  his  life  ;  and 
how  far  he  required  to  be  roused  from  a  spirit- 
ual lethargy,  and  to  be  chastised  for  his  sins, 
it  is  perhaps  intended  he  should  learn  from  the 
blow  he  has  received. 

So  far  as  a  fellow-creature  can  judge,  Mrs. 
Ewing  was  never  in  a  higher  state  of  readiness 
to  obey  the  call  of  her  Lord.  In  the  early  part 
of  the  year,  she  had  revised  the  arrangement  of 
her  temporal  affairs.  She  had  examined  her  pa- 
pers and  letters  down  to  tlic  22d  of  the  month 
before  her  death  ;  burning  many,  and  leaving 
directions  respecting  such  as  she  allowed  to  re- 
main.    In  various  other  respects,  she  acted  like 


Ezek.  xxiv.  16. 


92  MEMOIR    OF 

one  who  had  what  has  been  called  a  presenti- 
ment of  death  ;  and  yet  she  was  under  no  alarm, 
and,  to  all  appearance,  bid  as  fair  for  life,  and 
improved  health,  as  rn  any  prior  period  of  our 
union.  On  no  religious  point  was  there  any 
change  in  her  spirit  and  conduct;  but  the 
most  exemplary  steadfastness,  the  most  en- 
ergetic perseverance-,  was  daily  manifested. 
She  was  truly  a  disciple  waiting  for  her  Lord. 
How  often  did  I  feel  myself  humbled  by  a  con- 
scientious diligence,  which  was  continually  leav- 
ing me  far  behind  ! 

As  an  introduction  to  the  account  of  our 
dreadful  calamity,  and  at  the  same  time  a  speci- 
men of  her  spirit  in  writing  only  a  few  lines,  I 
insert  Mrs.  E  wing's  last  letter  to  Mrs.  II n  : 

"4,  Car! Ion-place,  Monday,  8th  Sept.  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Friend, 

"We  are  very  sorry  to  find  your  dear  husband 
has  been  suffering  so  much.  We  hope  to  call 
and  see  you  to-morrow  ;  but  are  all  of  opinion 
you  ought  not  to  propose  our  dining  with  you, 
which  we  would  all  hove  bad  much  pleasure  in 
doing,  had  Mr.  H -  been  well. 

"Our  trip  to  Lanark  has  bom  delayed  till 
Wednesday,  on  account  of  the  children*  having 
been  vaccinated,  and  Dr.  Anderson  is  to  call  at 
eleven  to-morrow,  to  examine  their  arms,  when 
we  could  not  be  absent ;  therefore  we  will  not 


*  Mr.  Cathcart's  children,  then  with  us,  along  with 
their  parents. 


tflitS.  EWlKii. 


93 


•jome    in  the  boat,  but  in  a  coach,  and  would 
make  it  the  hour  most  convenient  for  you. 

"  I  hope  we  mutually  remember  each  other  at 
a  throne  of  grace,  and  that  the  Lord  will  bless 
the  word  preached  to  build  up  all  of  us  who  are 
in  fellowship,  and  to  add  to  us  of  those  who  are 
yet  to  be  brought  in.  I  grieve  at  your  missing 
yesterday's  lecture.  With  best  love,  I  am, 
"  My  dear  friend, 

"  Yours  affectionately) 

"  B.  Ewing." 

^Notwithstanding  the  above,  we  did  dine  the 
/lay  following  with  our  dear  friends,  and  it  might 
be  considered  as  the  last  dinner,  of  which  she 
was  able  to  partake. 

In  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  10th  of 
September,  1828,  the  day  of  our  Journey  to  the 
Falls  of  Clyde,  when  the  coach  had  come  to  the 
door,  my  dear  wife  came  to  me  in  the  study, 
and  said,  "Let  U3  commit  ourselves  to  God." 
Little  did  either  of  us  think  that  we  were  now 
to  close  those  exercises  of  secret  social  worship, 
which  always  had  so  greatly  enhanced  to  us  the 
comforts  of  our  sweet  home.  Standing  togeth- 
er, hand  in  hand,  we  spent  a  few  minutes  in 
prayer,  committing  ourselves,  and  each  other, 
and  our  dear  fellow-travellers,  to  God,  for  time 
and  eternity,  and  particularly  for  the  excursion 
on  which  we  were  setting  out.  Alas !  the  ex- 
cursion proved  fatal !     What  then  ?     Were  our 


94  MEMOIR    OF 

prayers  unavailing?  I  cannot  allow  it.  Who- 
ever prays  daily,  must  one  day  receive,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  a  similar  answer.  Death 
met  us  ;  but  (let  the  reader  judge)  God  did  not 
forsake  us.  He  stood  by  the  sufferer  to  the 
last  moment,  when  he  took  her  to  himself, 
Would  she  not,  does  she  not,  join  me  in  say- 
ing, nothing  happened  to  prevent  us  from  ad- 
hering to  the  apostle's  testimony:  "I  know 
whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that 
he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed 
unto  him  against  that  day."* 

We  immediately  stepped  into  the  carriage, 
and  drove  from  the  door  of  that  house,  which 
her  presence  had  made  a  happy  dwelling  for 
four  and  twenty  years  ;  but  to  which  now,  she 
was  never  to  return.  She  was  saved  the  pain 
of  taking  a  last  look ;  and  I  did  not  anticipate, 
that  instead  of  coming  back  the  next  day,  with 
my  belovcil  companion,  and  her  affectionate  rel- 
atives, a  happy  couple  with  a  joyous  family  party, 
I  should  arrive,  at  the  interval  of  a  week,  in  the 
darkness  of  the  evening,  a  desolate  widower, 
preceded  by  the  lifeless  remains  of  her  who  was 
now  sitting  cheerfully  beside  me  ;  accompanied 
by  a  fellow-sufferer,  bruised,  and  lame,  bereav- 
ed, like  myself,  of  her  most  intimate  friend  upon 
earth,  with  whom  she  had  long  lived  as  a  sister 
rather  than  a  cousin ;    and  leaving  the  rest  of 


2  Tim.  i.  12. 


MRS.  EWING.  95 

the  company  disabled,  near  the  spot  where  the 
death-blow  had  been  given  to  my  beloved  wife, 
and  we  had  all  been  brought,  in  a  moment,  to 
the  brink  of  eternity. 

During  the  first  stage  we  met  with  nothing  re- 
markable. At  Wishawtown,  we  breakfasted, 
and  fed  the  horses.  Before  setting  out  again, 
the  weather,  which  had  been  dark  and  showery 
in  the  morning,  became  fine.  We  therefore  or- 
dered the  top  of  the  carriage  to  be  opened;  con- 
gratulating ourselves  on  the  favourable  day  for 
enjoying  a  view  of  the  country,  which  becomes 
so  romantic  towards  Lanark.  In  perfect  safety 
we  descended  the  many  slopes  of  the  road  along 
the  high  grounds,  which  hang  over  the  house  of 
Lee ;  looking  down  with  impunity  over  much 
steeper  banks,  than  that  on  which  we  were  so  soon 
to  be  overwhelmed  with  distress.  At  the  bridge 
across  Cartland  Craigs,  we  left  the  carriage  for 
a  little,  and  walked  to  the  usual  place  for  taking 
a  passing  view  of  that  wonderful  ravine.  A 
person  whom  we  met  there,  kept  telling  us  of  a 
lady  who  had  been  killed  immediately  below, 
by  going  too  near  the  edge  of  the  opposite  pre- 
cipice. The  story  seemed  to  have  made  Mrs. 
Ewing  nervous ;  for  she  discovered  uncommon 
alarm,  when  Miss  Cathcart  stumbled,  as  she  was 
turning,  in  the  narrow  path,  to  go  away.  I  smil- 
ed at  Barbara's  trepidation,  as  if  danger  in  our 
case  had  been  out  of  the  question. 


96  MEMbiH  6t 

On  arriving  at  Lanark,  we  ordered  dinner  and 
beds  at  the  inn,  intending  to  remain  there  that 
day,  and  to  return,  the  day  following,  by  Ham- 
ilton, to  Glasgow.  We  then  proposed  to  take 
forward  the  carriage  as  far  as  possible,  to  di- 
minish the  walk  the  party  must  have,  in  view- 
ing the  Falls  of  Corras  and  Bonnington,  and  the 
mills  of  New  Lanark ;  all  which  we  hoped  to 
accomplish  before  dinner.  We  had  entered  the 
Bonnington  avenue — had  passed  the  first,  and 
were  approaching  the  second  gate,  where  stran- 
gers put  down  their  names,*and  proceed  on  foot 
to  view  the  Falls  of  Clyde.  We  were  so  near 
this  gate,  that,  in  three  minutes,  we  should,  at 
any  rate,  have  left  the  carriage  till  our  return* 
Here  there  is  a  descent  on  the  edge  of  a  steep 
bank ;  but  the  road  is  good.  I  had  gone  the 
same  road  before  in  a  carriage,  without  any  dis- 
aster; the  coachman  seemed  to  advance  confi- 
dently, yet  slowly,  as  he  had  been  desired.  Mr. 
Cathcart's  servant,  who  was  also  on  the  box, 
says  he  proposed  to  the  coachman  to  put  on  the 
drag,  who  answered  it  was  unnecessary.  I  can 
say  nothing  from  my  own  observation,  for  I  was 
sitting  with  my  back  to  the  horses.  I  was  on 
the  right  hand  side  of  the  carriage,  which  was 
the  side  nearest  to  the  declivity  ;  my  wife  was 
next  me  on  my  right  hand  ;  and  Miss  Cathcart 
beyond  her,  on  the  same  seat;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cathcart  were  opposite.  On  beginning  to  de- 
scend, Mrs.  Cathcart,  looking  forward,  said,  "  I 


MRS.     EWING.  97 

think  wc  had  better  stop,  and  get  out  here." 
Her  look  rather  alarmed  me  ;  but,  to  the  best  of 
my  recollection,  I  made  no  answer.  Presently, 
my  wife  said,  "It  is  too  late  to  bid  him  stop 
now."  In  an  instant  after,  I  heard  both  the 
coachman  and  Mr.  Cathcart's  servant  begin  to 
scream,  in  consequence  of  finding,  as  I  suppose, 
that  the  carriage  was  going  off  the  road.  I  be- 
lieve they  both  leapt  from  the  box,  the  one  to 
the  one  side,  the  other  to  the  other ;  but  I  saw 
not  what  they  did.  I  now  felt  the  coach  go  off 
the  road,  fall  to  the  right,  first  on  its  side  :  then 
turn  over,  bottom  uppermost,  and  go  down  the 
precipitous  bank  a  considerable  way  immediate- 
ly above  us,  and  throw  us  out  on  the  ground 
with  much  force  ;  and  finally  fall  on  its  side, 
when  it  was  stopped  from  falling  farther,  by 
some  trees,  I  believe ;  and  I  saw  it  resting,  with 
Miss  Cathcart  lying  under  it,  from  the  breast 
downwards ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cathcart,  both  evi- 
dently injured,  lying  near  each  other,  a  little  be- 
hind ;  Mrs.  Ewing  sitting  on  the  bank  a  little 
before,  and  apparently  stretching  her  hand  to- 
wards Miss  Cathcart ;  while  I  was  left  a  little 
higher  on  the  bank,  conscious  of  some  sort  of 
shock  in  my  left  shoulder,  but  not,  at  the  time, 
sensible  of  any  material  hurt.  I  now  heard  the 
servant  cry,  "Miss  Cathcart  is  killed."  This 
called  my  attention  to  her  perilous  situation.  I 
slid  down  to  attempt  to  raise  the  coach,  and  to 
I 


Hg  MEMOIR   OF 


draw  her  out  from  below  it ;  and,  after  some  in- 
effectual struggles,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
ant,  and  her  own  efforts,  she  was  extrica- 


SO  j-1 


Eea. 

I  then  turned  towards  my  wife,  whose  place 
was  now   a  little    above  my  position  ;    and,  for 

firgt  time,  perceived  the  dreadful  calamity  : 

right  leg  broken  close  by  the  ankle—the  leg- 
bone  protruded  far  through  the  skin— the  foot 
quite  out  of  its  place— the  fracture  of  the  bdne 
-the  laceration  of  the  flesh,  and  the  streaming 
of  the  blood— all  equally  appalling!  And  yet 
she  was  sitting  in  silence,  with  perfect  compo- 
sure. To  my  exclamation  of  agony,  she  calm- 
ly replied,  "Yes,— I  cannot  help  it— the  will  of 
God  be  done!" 

he  cause  of  this  fatal  fracture  is  not  known. 
Tremendous  as  the  blow  must  have  been,  my 
dear  sufferer  said  to  me,  "I  was  not  aware  of 
having  got  any  injury,  till  I  found  my  foot  would 
not  serve  me,  to  go  to  Jane  Cathcart." 

I    sprung  up  the  bank,  and  began  to  run  to- 

Is  New  Lanark,  calling  out  for  a  surgeon. 
]  am  told  Mrs.  Ewing  said,  as  I  went  off,  "Is 
there  nobody  to  go  after  my  poor  husband;  for 
he  is  not  able  to  run  in  that  manner."  In  a  few 
minutes,  a  gentleman  overtook  me,  and  assured 
me,  that  two  men  had  already  gone  for  sur- 
geons; that  they  knew  where  to  find  them;  and 
That  I  might  depend  on  their  coming  with  all 
possible  speed.      This  was  most  providential; 


MRS.    EWING.  99 

for  I  felt  myself  unable  to  keep  up  the  pace  at 
which  I  was  running  :  and  I  had  misgivings  of 
heart,  at  the  thought  of  leaving  my  poor  dear 
wife  in  the  hour  of  her  distress,  to  faint,  and  to 
die,  perhaps,  in  the  midst  of  strangers,  I  hast- 
ened" back  to  her ;  found  her  sitting  as  before, 
with  composure,  and  patience,  and  bearing  her 
pain  with  the  most  heroic  fortitude.  The  alarm 
was  rapidly  spread.  From  all  quarters,  friend- 
ly people  began  to  surround  us.  For  a  mo- 
ment, Mrs.  Ewing  felt  annoyed  at  the  eager- 
ness with  which  so  many  spectators  gazed  on 
the  whole  party,  and  particularly  on  her  hers  slfj 
whose  wound  was  so  severe  and  manifest. 
"  Oh  !  (she  said  to  me)  what  an  exposure  !  "  Bui 
when  I  replied,  that  she  must  not  mind  that,  in 
present  circumstances,  and  placed  myself  so  as 
to  screen  her  as  much  as  possible,  from  the  pub- 
licity which  she  felt  to  be  distressing,  she  com- 
plained no  more  ;  submitting  to  the  necessity  of 
the  case;  and  no  doubt  having  her  attention 
withdrawn  by  the  sharpness  of  the  pain,  from 
inferior  considerations.  The  spectators  also  be- 
haved with  the  greatest  gentleness,  sympathy, 
and  delicacy;  and  showed  the  kindest  zeal  and 
tenderness  in  rendering  assistance. 

In  a  wonderfully  short  time,  the  assistant  of 
the  surgeon  at  New  Lanark  came  to  the  spot, 
and  announced  the  speedy  arrival  of  his  princi- 
pal. Till  then,  he  declined  doing  any  thing 
himself,  and  declared,  vvnat  was  indeed  very  ev- 


100  MEMOIR    or 

ident,  that  the  sufferers  must  all  he  removed  to 
suitable  quarters,  before  they  could  be  properly 
examined,  or  any  thing  done  for  their  relief.  I 
begged  the  kind  bystanders  to  get  a  door  taken 
from  its  hinges,  and  brought  for  Mrs.  Ewing. 
This  was  soon  done,  and  the  cushions  which 
had  been  taken  from  the  carriage  being  placed 
on  it,  she  was  lifted  to  it,  and  sat  on  them,  (for 
she  could  not  lie  down,)  with  her  fractured  leg 
-stretched  out  before  her,  and  supporting  herself 
behind  with  her  hands  ;  while  the  people  carri- 
ed her  as  well  as  they  could,  along  the  precipi- 
tous bank,  and  with  no  small  difficulty  reached 
the  road.  Her  removal  to  the  door  ;  the  jolting 
irregular  steps  of  the  willing,  but  inexperienced 
and  agitated  bearers;  and  the  awkward,  unsup- 
ported position  in  which  she  was  obliged  to  re- 
main for,  I  suppose,  not  less  than  an  hour,  were 
all  grievous  aggravations  of  her  affliction.  The 
bearers  required  to  be  changed  several  times: 
but  no  change,  so  much  as  of  posture,  could  her 
situation  admit  of.  She  made  no  complaint ;  but 
it  is  my  wonder  that  she  did  not  repeatedly  faint. 
She  was  prevented,  I  suppose,  from  doing  so,  not 
by  the  sustenance  of  bodily  strength,  but  by  the 
excitement  of  the  agony  which  she  must  have 
been  enduring. 

The  first  place  to  which  she  was  carried,  was 
the  Lodge,  where  visiters  of  the  Falls  put  down 
their  names.  But  there  was  no  room  there,  to 
receive  so  much  as  one.    We  were,  therefore- 


MRS.  EWING.  101 

obliged  to  retrace  our  steps,  and  to  go  towards 
New  Lanark.  We  now  met  the  people,  with 
the  rest  of  our  party,  coining  after  us  ;  and  they 
also  were  obliged  to  change  their  course.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cathcart,  who  were  the  next  sufferers 
to  Mrs.  Ewing  in  point  of  severity,  were  carried 
in  chairs  ;  and  Miss  Cathcart  was,  though  much 
bruised,  capable  of  proceeding  a  little  way,  sup- 
ported by  two  men,  and  was  afterwards  put  into 
a  chaise  which  had  been  very  promptly  sent 
down  from  the  Inn  at  Old  Lanark. 

Before  we  left  the  lodge,  the  surgeon,  whose 
assistant  had  already  come,  reached  us.  At 
first,  indeed,  on  overtaking  the  rest  of  the  party, 
he  thought  Mr.  Cathcart  was  the  most  severely 
hurt ;  and  apparently  near  death.  He  therefore 
proposed  to  examine  him  immediately.  But,  on 
perceiving  this  intention, Mr.  Cathcart  said,  "Oh 
no!  go  first  to  Mrs.  Ewing."  He  therefore 
came  on  to  us,  and  saw  the  necessity  of  our  pro- 
ceeding towards  New  Lanark.  And  now  the 
question  was,  where  we  could  be  lodged  ?  There 
were  five  to  be  accommodated.  There  was  no 
large  dwelling  house  with  spare  rooms,  immedi- 
ately at  hand.  None  of  the  managers  of  the 
mills  had  yet  been  found.  Every  body  was  wil- 
ling to  receive  us,  but  nobody  could  receive  us 
all.  And  the  extremity  of  the  case  admitted  of 
no  delay.  The  worthy  surgeon  offered  to  take 
three  into  his  own  house,  and  to  carry  Mrs. 
Ewing  to  a  large  good  room  in  the  neighbour- 


102  MEMOIR    OF 

hood  of  the  spot  where  we  now  were.  But  she 
must  have  been  carried  up  stairs  to  a  fourth 
floor  ;  and  we  shrunk  from  the  idea  of  being 
separated.  In  this  dilemma,  Braxfield  House 
occurred  to  us  ;  a  part  of  it  being  possessed  by 
Mrs.  Owen,  our  esteemed  Christian  friend,  who, 
we  were  sure,  would  make  us  welcome.  But 
we  were  told  that  she  and  her  family  were  from 
home.  When  we  knew  not  what  to  do,  Mr. 
Walker,  the  gentleman  to  whom  the  other  part 
of  Braxfield  House  belonged,  kindly  sent,  as 
soon  as  he  heard  of  our  calamity,  to  invite  us  to 
take  possession,  and  opened  it  for  our  reception. 
And  though  he  was  not  living  in  it,  at  the  time, 
and  it  was  unfurnished,  every  thing  was  pro- 
vided with  so  much  celerity,  that  the  beds  were 
ready  almost  as  soon  as  the  poor  sufferers  could 
arrive  to  be  laid  on  them. 

Notwithstanding  these  most  generous  exer- 
tions, executed,  I  believe,  by  the  humane  orders 
of  the  managers,  and  the  compassionate,  zealous 
activity  of  the  numerous  and  expert  workmen 
of  the  New  Lanark  mills,  some  degree  of  delay 
had  been  unavoidable.  Again,  and  again,  a 
halt  had  taken  place,  to  inquire  where  we  might 
go.  Consultation,  perplexity,  various  kind  offers 
successively  announced  to  us,  and  the  fluctua- 
tions of  haste  and  trepidation,  in  making  a  selec- 
tion, consumed  the  precious  moments.  3Iean- 
while,  the  alarm  was  bringing  together  the  nu- 
merous   population  of  all   the   neighbourhood. 


5IRS.   EWING.  103 

The  dinner  hour  sent  forth  the  whole  body  of 
Workers,  young  and  old,  from  the  mills.  Al- 
though none  annoyed  us  willingly,  the  pressure 
became  embarrassing  ;  it  was  difficult  to  get  on; 
and  the  heat  threatened  to  overpower  us.  This 
continued  till  we  were  past  the  mills,  and  was 
not  quite  removed,  till  we  reached  Braxfield 
gate. 

The  distance  from  the  fatal  spot  to  Braxfield 
House  is,  I  suppose,  not  less  than  a  mile. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  this  dolorous  way, 
Mrs.  Ewing  retained  her  self-possession.  She 
was  attentive  to  every  circumstance,  but  noth- 
ing disconcerted  her.  Her  leg  was  covered  on- 
ly with  her  handkerchief,  from  under  which  the 
blood  was  flowing  along  the  door,  on  which  she 
was  carried.  Her  bonnet  had  been  torn  in  the 
fall,  and  was  put  off;  only  her  cap  remained  on 
her  head.  I  could  advert  to  nothing  at  the  time, 
except  the  deplorable  circumstances  of  our  situ- 
ation. But  afterwards,  when  the  universal  testi- 
mony of  strangers  was  reported  to  me,  that  they 
had  never  seen  such  an  expression  of  united 
dignity  and  piety  in  similar  distress  before,  I 
could  distinctly  recollect  that  her  benign  coun- 
tenance had  truly  appeared  to  the  greatest  ad- 
vantage. This,  accompanied  by  the  propriety  of 
her  demeanour,  must  indeed  have  struck  every 
beholder. 

"Amidst  all  the  tumult,  and  all  the  suffering, 
her  kind  looks  were  constantly  bent  on  me,  as  I 


104  MEMOIR    OF 

walked  by  her  side ;  and,  ever  and  anon,  as  our 
eyes  met,  she  forced  her  features  to  a  smile — a 
courageous,  sweet,  languid,  evanescent  smile, 
intended  to  cheer  me ;  but  from  my  poor  dear 
wife  in  such  a  condition,  so  irresistibly  heart- 
rending, that  I  know  not,  when  she  at  last  de- 
sisted from  it,  whether  she  was  checked  by  her 
own  exhaustion,  or  by  observing  its  effect  in 
agitating  my  mind.  The  crowd  heard  not  the 
sound  of  her  voice,  except  occasionally  a  few 
that  were  near,  when  she  con  firmed  our  waver- 
ing purposes,  by  her  judicious  decisions,  on  the 
offers  made  to  us  of  hospitality  and  service.  But 
it  was  the  will  of  God  that  thousands  should  be 
brought  together  to  witness  an  eminent  exam- 
ple of  the  resignation,  patience,  and  fortitude  of 
a  delicate  woman,  of  acute  sensibility,  amidst 
excruciating  sufferings,  which  had  come  on  her 
in  a  moment,  and  were  very  soon  to  prove  mortal. 
This  was  not  an  ordinary  dispensation  of  Prov- 
idence to  any  of  them.  Surely,  they  will  never 
forget,  it.  May  God  in  mercy  bless  it  to  us  all, 
for  the  good  of  our  souls ! 

By  the  time  we  laid  Mrs.  Ewing  on  the  bed, 
from  which  she  never  rose,  there  were  four  or 
five  medical  gentlemen  present,  who  proceeded 
to  examine  her  fracture ;  and  I  every  moment 
expected  to  hear  the  dreadful  word  amputation  ; 
as  I  did  not  imagine  that  any  thing  else  could 
possibly  be  accomplished,  in  so  bad  a  case.  With 
my  hand  locked  in  that  of  my  beloved  sufferer, 


MRS.    EWING.  105 

I  sat  in  breathless  suspense ;   while  she  could 
not  but  cry  out,  and  groan,  (though  in  a  won- 
derfully suppressed  degree,)  while  writhing  un- 
der her  agony,  now  greater   than  ever,  from  the 
handling  and  stretching,  necessary  in  setting  the 
limb.     I  could  hardly  believe  my  hearing,  when 
it  was  said  that  the  bone  was  set,  and  the  foot 
restored  to  its  proper  place  and   position.      It 
was,  indeed,  good  news  for  the  moment;  but 
the  poor  dear  patient  continued  to  suffer  such 
increased  pain,  that  neither  of  us  could  think  of 
any  thing  else  ;  nor  did  it  appear  from  the  event, 
that  we  had  any  reason  to  be  elated.      I  am 
satisfied,   however,  that  all  that  man  could  do 
was  done.     The  bone  was  set  by  Mr.  William 
Gibson,  of  New  Lanark,  who,  with   Mr.  Flem- 
ing, of  Old   Lanark,  were  the  surgeons  of  the 
neighbourhood,   who   attended    all    the    party. 
The  examination  and  treatment  of  the  patients 
occupied  the  surgeons  the  whole  evening.     By 
Mrs.  Ewing's  suggestion,  I   had  despatched  a 
messenger,  immediately  after  the  event  happen- 
ed, for  Dr.  A.  D.  Anderson,  of  Glasgow,  who, 
on  his  arrival,  soon  after  midnight,  approved  of 
all  that  had  been  done,  and  continued  with  us 
till  next  day. 

Lady  Mary  Ross,  of  Bonnington,  with  part 

of  her  family,  and  Colonel  Strutt,  and  part  of 

his  family,  then  on  a  visit  to  her,  were  at  Brax- 

field  House  as  soon  as  ourselves ;    she  and  they 

K 


106  MEMOIR    OF 

visited  us  almost  daily;  and  their  attentions 
were  most  important  to  our  welfare,  as  long  as 
any  of  us  remained  there.  She  recommend- 
ed Mr.  Gibson  to  our  confidence,  as  a  skil- 
ful and  attentive  surgeon,  whom  she  employed 
in  her  own  family.  She  directed  us  to  excellent 
attendants  from  Braxfield  Lodge,  which  were 
immediately  obtained.  She  also  had  the  good- 
ness to  assist  in  writing  to  friends,  and  made 
numberless  other  efforts  to  mitigate  our  suffer- 
ings, and  to  calm  our  minds. 

When     strangers   had    withdrawn,   and   the 
events  of  this  terrible   day  were  brought  to  a 
close,  we  could  not  but  adore  the  compassion  of 
God,  that,  after  what  had  happened,  such  good 
accommodation  was  provided  for  us  all.     The 
very  circumstance  of  the  house  being  empty, 
made  us  feel  more   at  liberty,  inasmuch   as  we 
gave  no  disturbance  to  a  resident  family.     The 
comfort,  too,  of  being  all  lodged  together  was 
very  precious.       Every  one  could   thus   easily 
make  known  his  own  situation,    and  learn,  at 
any  moment,  the  situation  of  all  the  rest.     Some 
of  us  could  even  give  assistance  to  their  friends. 
From  our  arrival,  Miss  Cathcart,  though    sadly 
bruised  and  lamed,  had  been  going  from  room 
to  room,  as  if  she  had  not  been  a  patient  her- 
self;   and  her  own  room  was   within  call  of  her 
brother's  on  the  one  hand,  and  ours  on  the  oth- 
er.    But  my  poor  dear  wife  suffered  violent  pain 
all  night  long.     Great  was  the  agony  of  the  set- 


MRS.   EWIRti,  107 

ting  of  the  bone  ;  but  the  pain  which  she  after- 
wards complained  of  at  the  fractured  point  of 
it,  was  much  greater  after  the  setting  than  be- 
fore it.  They  had  given  her  black  drop,  (for  she 
durst  not  use  laudanum,)  in  the  hope  of  pro- 
curing for  her  some  mitigation  and  rest ;  but  it 
produced  no  discernible  effect  till  the  following 
day.  It  had  also  been  necessary  to  fasten  the 
fractured  leg  to  a  splinter  board,  to  prevent  the 
bone  from  shifting ;  the  effect  of  which  was,  to 
nail,  as  it  were,  immoveably  to  one  spot,  an  ac- 
tive limb  ;  and  thereby  to  aggravate  exceeding- 
ly, the  irritability  of  all  the  parts  of  the  agitated 
and  restless  body. 

Next  morning,  we  Were  laid  under  fresh  obli- 
gations by  many  very  handsome  offers  of  ser- 
vice, from  worthy  individuals  and  families  in 
the  neighbourhood.  The  Rev.  William  Men- 
zies,  minister  of  the  parish,  and  his  lady,  wait- 
ed on  us  with  various  comforts :  his  lady  bring- 
ing dresses  for  the  ladies,  and  proposing  to  re- 
main herself  to  nurse  them.  From  being  pre- 
pared, at  any  rate,  to  spend  a  night  in  the  jour- 
ney ;  and  attendants  having  been  instantly  pro- 
cured on  our  coming  to  Braxfield,  some  of  these 
kind  proofs  of  sympathy  and  attention  were  ren- 
dered unnecessary.  But  we  did  not  feel  the  less 
obliged.  I  am  conscious  of  being  indebted,  in 
a  similar  manner,  to  many,  whose  names  I  nev- 
er knew,  or  have  forgot;  and  I  would  here  take 
an  opportunity  of  expressing  my  fear,  that,  from 


108  MEMOIR   OP 

having  my  mind  absorbed  with  one  object,  I 
may  have  been  deficient  in  making  acknowl- 
edgments, where  they  are  due.  I  do  hope,  that 
omissions  of  this  nature,  which  I  sincerely  re- 
gret, will  be  generously  forgiven. 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  Mrs.  Ewing  became 
drowsy,  and  at  last  obtained  some  intervals  of 
sleep ;  and  the  severity  of  the  pain  was  so  far 
mitigated,  that  towards  evening  she  once  said, 
she  was  surprised  to  find  herself  so  easy.  At 
night,  however,  when  she  mentioned  her  ex- 
pectation that  the  medical  gentlemen  would  al- 
low her  another  dose  of  the  black  drop,  they 
were  under  the  necessity  of  acknowledging, 
that  they  were  afraid  to  administer  it  again  so 
soon,  lest  it  should  promote  any  tendency  to  fe- 
ver; against  which  they  must,  above  all  things, 
be  on  their  guard.  She  at  once  submitted  to  a 
privation  which,  most  likely,  the  critical  nature 
of  the  case  required ;  but  the  consequence  was, 
another  restless  and  most  distressed  night. 
And  now  the  keeping  of  the  fractured  limb  in 
one  position,  became  extremely  afflicting.  "Gen- 
tlemen," she  said  to  the  medical  attendants, 
"could  you  turn  my  leg  to  the  other  side?" 
They  were  obliged  to  confess,  they  durst  not 
venture,  as  the  bone  might  be  put  out  of  its 
place.  She  did  not  repeat  the  question  that 
night,  although  her  aggravated  sufferings  were 
very  great. 


MRS.    EWING.  109 

Next  day,  Mrs.  Ewing  had  the  comfort  of  re- 
ceiving a  visit  from  her  brother.     Sir  John  Max- 
well told  me  he  had  called  on  Dr.  Anderson, 
with  a  view  to  bring  him  in  his  carriage,  for  a 
second  visit.       The  Dr.   could  not   come,  but 
promised  to  be  with  us  next  day ;  and   I  was 
willing  to  hope,  that  his  delaying  for  a  day,  was 
a  good  sign,  as  it  showed  he  was  under  no  im- 
mediate alarm.     Being  under  the  application  of 
leeches,  when  Sir  John  arrived,  I  could  not  at- 
tend him  to  Mrs.  E  wing's  room,  nor  return  to 
her,  till  some  time  after  he  had  left  us.     At  part- 
ing I  ventured  to  say,  I  hoped  we  should  all  be. 
better,  when  we  next  met.     But  when  I  looked 
after  him,  through  the  window,  as  he  walked 
slowly  away,  my  heart  was  struck  through,  as 
with  a  dart, by  the  appalling  thought,  "Perhaps* 
my  dear  Sir,  you  have  got  the  last  look  of  your 
beloved  sister ! " 

When  I  got  back  to  Mrs.  Ewing's  room,  I 
found  her  fast  asleep ;  and,  being  fatigued  by 
the  leeches,  I  lay  down  on  my  bed,  which  was 
in  the  same  room,  and  soon  fell  asleep  also :  we 
had  each,  I  afterwards  learned,  above  an  hour's 
sleep ;  and  I  believe  she  had  no  such  period  of 
undisturbed  repose,  during  the  whole  remaining 
part  of  her  sufferings.  When  she  had  got  what 
was  called  her  dinner,  which  consisted  of  a 
roasted  apple,  she  spoke  to  me,  with  much  sat- 
isfaction, of  her  brother's  visit;  particularly 
mentioning  the  proofs  he  had  given,  of  consid- 


110  MEMOIR    OF 

erate  affection  and  care.  She  then  asked  me  to 
repeat  to  her  a  few  portions  of  Scripture,  and  to 
pray.  I  felt  as  if  I  could  almost  entertain  the 
hope  of  some  approaching  perceptible  mitiga- 
tion of  trouble. 

But  the  night  was  again  a  night  of  extreme 
distress;  no  rest,  very  great  pain  in  the  leg, 
and  a  most  violent  affection  of  internal  pain  in 
the  body.  The  black  drop  Avas  given,  but  it  en- 
tirely failed  to  give  any  relief.  I  used  to  think, 
that  the  most  deplorable  sufferings  conceivable 
were  implied  in  the  language  of  Job  vii.  4.  "  I 
am  full  of  tossings  to  and  fro  unto  the  dawning 
of  the  day,"  But  I  now  saw,  that  to  be  so  fix- 
ed, as  to  be  prevented  from  "  tossings,"  was  a 
most  grievous  addition.  Only  once  more,  how- 
ever, did  she  put  to  her  medical  attendants  the 
hopeless  question.  But  she  did  it  in  such  a 
manner,  and  with  such  a  limitation  of  request, 
as  has  made  an  indelible  impression  on  my 
mind.  "  Could  you  turn  my  leg  for  one  min- 
ute?"  They  declared  they  were  very  sorry,  but 
durst  not  attempt  to  comply.  She  uttered  not 
a  syllable  of  complaint,  or  lamentation,  and  nev- 
er mentioned  the  subject  again. 

On  Saturday  morning,  Dr.  Anderson  arrived,, 
according  to  promise.  To  use  his  own  expres- 
sion, he  found  his  patient  "not  getting  better," 
and  he,  and  the  Lanark  surgeons,  all  evidently 
uneasy,  united  in  requesting  more  assistance. 
I  begged  they  would  name  any  they  chose  from 


MRS.    EWING.  Ill 

any  quarter.  After  a  little  consideration,  an  ex- 
press was,  with  their  unanimous  approbation, 
despatched  to  Glasgow,  for  Dr.  John  Macarthur, 
who  had  attended  her,  on  all  occasions,  from 
her  youth,  and  enjoyed  her  highest  confidence 
for  skill  and  experience.  She  would  not  allow 
his  being  sent  for  at  first,  to  so  great  a  distance, 
when  she  considered  that  the  greater  part  of 
the  journey  must  be  in  the  night  time,  as  she 
knew  he  had  not  been  well ;  but  we  were  sure 
she  would  be  gratified  by  a  visit  from  him,  now 
that  his  arrival  could  take  place  in  the  course  of 
the  day.  My  fears  were  now  excited  to  the  ut- 
termost. Alas !  there  was  the  imminent  danger 
of  a  fatal  result ;  and  there  was  the  probability 
of  a  painful,  and  now  almost  hopeless,  previous 
operation.  I  supposed  that  a  proposal  would 
be  made,  to  amputate  the  limb,  as  the  only  re- 
maining resource.  This  I  had  dreaded  from 
the  beginning;  and  had  it  been  advised,  I  could 
not  have  opposed  it.  I  determined,  however,  if 
they  should  propose  it,  to  ask  if  they  could  suy, 
that  they  thought  there  was  a  reasonable  hope 
of  success  ;  if  they  could,  I  should  then  submit 
it  to  her  own  consideration,  assured  that  she 
would  give  an  answer  worthy  of  herself.  With 
this  purpose,  I  endeavoured  to  compose  my  agi- 
tated mind,  during  that  awful  day  of  suspense 
and  terror.  All  I  said  in  the  mean  time,  to  the 
surgeons  on  the  spot,  was,  that  whatever  should 
be   done,   I   must  be   allowed   to    be    present. 


112  MEMOIR    OF 

Though  from  the  disabled  state  of  my  left  arm, 
I  could  render  no  actual  service,  I  believed  she 
would  feel  my  being  with  her  as  some  mitiga- 
tion of  the  bitterness  of  her  cup ;  and  after  be- 
ing present  at  the  setting  of  the  bone,  I  thought 
I  could  stand  any  thing.  I  now  clung  to  her 
more  closely  than  ever.  Besides  the  melanchol- 
ly  satisfaction,  in  other  respects,  the  desire  of 
saving  her  feelings  gave  me,  while  in  the  room, 
a  degree  of  composure,  of  which  I  was  quite 
incapable  any  where  else. 

Although  very  much  exhausted,  it  was  won- 
derful with  what  tranquillity  she  passed  the  day. 
The  unfavourable  symptoms  rather  abated,  and 
we  all  hoped  she  was  better.  At  one  time, 
when  we  were  left  alone,  she  said  to  me,  "  Re- 
peat some  passages  of  Scripture."  I  began  with 
Psl.  Ixi.  2.  "When  my  heart  is  overwhelmed, 
lead  me  to  the  Rock  that  is  higher  than  I."  In 
a  little  time  she  said,  "Give  me  some  passages 
from  the  Romans."  I  repeated  Rom.  viii.  18. 
"For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present 
time  are  not  worthy  to  he  compared  with  the 
glory  which  shall  be  revealed  in  us,"  "  Repeat, 
rather,"  said  she,  "from  the  third  chapter,  the 
way  of  a  sinner's  justification  before  God."  I 
answered,  from  verse  19  to  26  inclusive,  "  Now 
we  know,  that  what  things  soever  the  law  saith, 
it  saith  to  them  who  are  under  the  law  ;  that  ev- 
ery mouth  may  be  stopped,  and  all  the  world 
may  become  guilty  before  God.    Therefore  by 


MRS.    EWING. 


113 


the  deeds  of  the  law  there  shall  no  flesh  be  jus- 
tified in  his  sight :  for  by  the  law  is  the  knowl- 
edge of  sin.  But  now  the  righteousness  of  God 
without  the  law  is  manifested,  being  witnessed 
by  the  law  and  the  prophets ;  even  the  righte- 
ousness of  God,  which  is  by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ 
unto  all,  and  upon  all  them  that  believe  ;  for  there 
is  no  difference  :  for  all  have  sinned,  and  come 
short  of  the  glory  of  God:  being  justified  freely 
by  his  grace,  through  the  redemption  that  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  ;  whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a 
propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  de- 
clare his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins 
that  are  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God ; 
to  declare,  /  say,  at  this  time  his  righteousness, 
that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  justifier  of  him 
which  believeth  in  Jesus."  She  was  now  satis- 
fied ;  and  I  did  not  attempt  to  fatigue  her  atten- 
tion any  further  at  the  time. 

Her  sufferings  were,  indeed,  so  severe  and  in- 
cessant, and  it  was  so  important  to  avoid  in- 
creasing her  agitation,  that  I  abstained  from  al- 
most every  thing  like  conversation  with  her.  I 
never  ventured  to  allude  to  the  fatal  event; 
never,  to  ask  if  she  could  tell  how  her  fracture 
happened  ;  and  this  must  account  for  my  igno- 
rance of  many  things,  which,  had  it  pleased 
God  to  spare  her,  I  should  have  been  eager  to 
learn  from  her  own  lips.  About  her  spiritual 
welfare,  I  had  no  anxiety ;  and  all  other  subjects, 
I  was  willing  to  postpone.    The  only  reference 


114 


MEMOIR    OF 


I  remember  her  making  to  the  calamity,  was  in 
these  words:  "I  observed  your  agitation,  when 
you  saw  what  had  happened  to  me  ;  but  I  made 
allowance  for  you,  as  I  was  very  sensible  I 
should  have  been  equally  agitated,  had  I  es- 
caped, and  the  thing  had  befallen  you." 

Dr.  Macarthur  arrived  from  Glasgow  in  the 
evening.  After  visiting  his  patient,  and  consult- 
ing with  the  other  medical  gentlemen,  he  sent 
for  me,  and  said,  "He  understood  I  was  appre- 
hensive there  must  be  an  operation;  there 
would  be  no  operation  ;  indeed  there  could  be 
none  ;  the  only  thing  to  be  attempted  was,  to 
bring  on  suppuration,  without  which  there  could 
be  no  cure  ;  that  they  had  agreed,  therefore,  to 
use  fomentation,  and  then  to  apply  bladders  of 
warm  water,  the  object  of  which  was  to  prolong 
the  effect  of  the  fomentation."  The  proposal 
was  accordingly  carried  into  effect.  None  of 
the  medical  gentlemen  left  us  before  midnight. 
Some  one  of  them  stayed  the  whole  of  every 
night :  this  night  Dr.  Anderson  stayed.  It  was 
Mrs.  Ewing  last,  and  certainly  her  worst  night. 
The  warm  application  was,  I  believe,  the  only 
remaining  expedient;  but  it  aggravated  every 
formerly  mentioned  distressing  symptom.  She 
could  not  rest  for  a  single  moment  ;  and  such 
was  the  internal  pain,  that  even  the  fractured 
leg  was  no  longer  mentioned.  It  was  a  severe 
struggle,  but  a  murmur  never  escaped  her,  she 
was  never  absorbed  in  her  own  sufferings  ;  she 


MRS.   EWING.  115 

was  composed,  and  resigned,  and  most  tenderly 
mindful  of  all  who  were  with  her.  As  I  was 
incapable  of  affording  assistance,  and  a  good 
deal  exhausted,  I  lay  down  in  bed.  What  sleep 
I  got,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  I  lay  as  still  as  I  could, 
and  I  was  told,  that  even  in  her  greatest  dis- 
tress, she  would  draw  aside  the  curtain,  and 
look  across  the  room,  to  see  how  I  was  lying ! 

Dr.  Macarthur  told  me  afterwards,  that  when 
he  arrived,  on  the  Saturday  evening,  her  pulse 
was  not  above  90 ;  but  that,  in  the  course  of  the 
three  hours  of  his  remaining  with  her,  before 
going  to  bed,  it  changed  remarkably  to  the 
worse.  Dr.  Anderson  observed  the  leg  to  be  a 
little  blackened  in  the  course  of  the  night ;  and 
next  morning  mortification  was  decidedly  and 
rapidly  advancing. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  morning,  however, 
her  sufferings  were  for  a  time,  to  appearance, 
somewhat  abated,  as  is  usual,  I  believe,  in  such 
cases.  On  getting  up,  I  found  her  very  weak, 
but  lying  as  if  she  was  easier.  When  asked, 
however,  how  she  was,  she  said  she  was  not 
better.  I  got  no  report  of  the  state  of  the  leg, 
till  the  medical  gentlemen  met  to  examine  it, 
which  was,  I  think,  about  ten  o'clock.  After 
conversing  with  Dr.  Anderson,  they  all  came  in- 
to her  room  together.  They  looked  at  the  leg. 
Mr.  Gibson  said,  "  We  will  not  trouble  Mrs. 
Ewing  with  much  dressing  this  morning."  In 
a  minute  or  two  they  retired.     Whether  it  was 


116 


MEMOIR    OF 


from  their  manner,  or  from  her  own  feelings,  or 
partly  from  both,  I  know  not ;  but  as  soon  as 
they  had  left  the  room,  and  she  and  I  were 
alone,  she  turned  to  me,  and  said,  "  My  dear,  I 
am  quite  sensible,  that  I  am  in  a  very  critical 
state."  My  answer  was,  "I  hope,  my  dear, 
that  God  is  with  you."  She  understood  me  in  a 
moment  ;  and  Dr.  Anderson  having  come  back 
to  the  room,  she  said  to  him,  "  Doctor,  am  not  I 
in  a  very  critical  state  ?"  He  replied,  "  Indeed, 
Ma'am,  it  would  be  wrong  to  flatter  you  :  we 
have  no  hope." 

The  example  of  fortitude,  which  follows,  is 
the  more  remarkable,  that  never  till  now,  had 
she  expressed,  or  seemed  to  entertain,  any  ap- 
prehension of  a  fatal  result.     Her  acute  suffer- 
ings, being  accounted  for  by  the  very  bad  frac- 
ture, did  not  alarm  her.     With  a  severe  and  te- 
dious illness  she  certainly  laid  her  account,  but 
not  with  death.     On  the  preceding  day,  she  had 
planned  one  of  her  servants,  who  had  been  sent 
for,  going  back  to  Glasgow,  in  the  following 
week,  to  bring  a  supply  of  various  articles  she 
thought  she  should  want.     On  that  same  morn- 
ing, she  said  to  Miss  Cathcart,  of  the  servant 
attending   her,   and  who  would  not  leave  her 
when  she  saw  her  so  ill,  "She  has  been  out  of 
bed  two  nights  following ;  that  must  not  happen 
again."     The  announcement,  therefore,  of  a  cer- 
tain and  speedy  dissolution  was  as  unexpected, 
as  it  was  solemn.     She  evidently  felt  its  solem- 


MRS.   EWING. 


117 


laity ;  but  showed  no  symptoms  of  alarm,  confu- 
sion, or  reluctance.  Her  immediate  effort  was, 
to  improve  the  short  time  that  might  remain,  for 
the  benefit  of  others*  With  this  view,  she  as- 
sembled all  the  family  that  could  come,  round 
her  bed,  that,  as  appeared  from  what  she  said, 
she  might  express  her  dying  faith  and  hope; 
her  love  to  Christ*  and  to  his  people,  and  to  his 
cause,  through  all  the  world ;  her  desire  for  the 
salvation  of  her  relatives  and  friends,  whether 
present  or  absent;  her  sympathy  with  those 
whom  she  was  about  to  leave  in  a  state  of  be- 
reavement and  solitude ;  her  sense  of  the  care 
and  skill,  although  unavailing,  of  the  medical 
attendants,  and  ;her  desire  to  do  them  spiritual 
good  in  return  ;  her  gratitude  to  the  servants 
who  had  waited  on  her,  especially  to  her  own 
servants,  whose  affection  she  had  long  possess- 
ed, and  in  whose  serious  Christianity  she  had,  for 
some  time,  felt  particular  satisfaction.  She  also 
remarked,  with  wonderful  accuracy  and  com- 
posure, the  symptoms  of  approaching  death  ; 
and  while  she  spoke  chiefly  of  the  things  of  God, 
and  the  concerns  of  the  soul,  she  settled  some 
worldly  matters,  and  expressed  her  wishes  as  to 
her  burial,  which  prevented  perplexity,  and  af- 
forded a  melancholy  satisfaction  to  surviving 
friends.  She  adverted  to  such  a  number  and 
variety  of  subjects,  and  spoke  upon  each  of 
them  with  such  clearness  and  propriety,  that 
one  might  have  thought  she  had  prepared  for 


118 


MEMOIR    OF 


the  occasion  the  very  language  she  was  enabled 
to  employ ;  while  it  was  perfectly  evident  that 
she  had  no  previous  warning,  and  that  she  Was 
urged  to  despatch,  by  feelings,  every  moment 
increasing,  which  indicated  the  immediate  ap- 
proach of  death. 

She  desired  me  to  inform  Mrs.  Cathcart  of  her 
situation,  and  to  say,  she  wished  to  see  her,  add- 
ing,  "tell   her  she    must  come    soon."      Miss 

M h  had  come  the  day  before,  but  we  had 

not  brought  her  into  Mrs.  Ewing's  room,  lest  it 
should  agitate  her  to  see  one,  of  whose  coming 

she  was  not  aware.     I  knew  that  Miss  M h 

would  wish  to  come  in  now ;  yet  did  not  like  to 
run  the  risk  of  surprising  Mrs.  Ewing  with  her 
unexpected  appearance.  I  was,  therefore, 
obliged  to  mention  her  having  arrived  the  pre- 
ceding day,  and  to  propose  her  being  brought  in 
with  the  rest.  "  I  cannot  speak  to  any  one  par- 
ticularly," said  she,  «  but  I  love  all,  who  love 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity."  When 
Miss  M h  came  in  with  Mrs.  and  Miss  Cath- 
cart, Mrs.  Ewing  pressed  her  hand  most  affec- 
tionately, taking  it  in  both  hers,  but  did  not 
speak  to  her;  finding  it  necessary,  I  suppose,  to 
save  her  strength  for  what  she  wished  to  say  to 
others,  or  to  the  whole  at  once. 

I  am  quite  unable  to  do  justice  to  the  scene, 
which  I  could  have  wished  to  have  given  most 
accurately  and  completely.  The  following  are 
some  of  her  expressions:—"!  have  no  eleva- 


MRS.    EWING.  119 

tions,  but  I  look  for  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  unto  eternal  life." — "  What  a  mercy  is  it, 
that  salvation  is  the  work  of  Christ ;  that  he 
hath  finished  it ;  and  that  we  are  called,  not  to 
attempt  that  work  for  ourselves,  but  to  believe 
in  him  !" 

Her  first  thoughts  were  directed  to  her  absent 
nearest  relatives.  "  Tell  my  dear  brother,  and 
his  dear  wife,  and  dear  children,  that  I  hope  my 
death  will  be  the  means  of  their  obtaining  eter- 
nal life,  which  can  only  be  obtained  from  the 
mercy  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ.  Say  this 
to  every  one  of  them."  Then,  as  if  unwilling 
there  should  be  any  delay,  she  added,  "  you  had 
better  write  it  to  them." 

To  Mrs.  Cathcart  she  spoke  with  much  affec- 
tion and  solemnity,  but  being  at  the  other  side 
of  the  bed,  I  could  not  hear  it  all,  and  cannot 
remember  all  that  I  did  hear.  "You  maybe 
sure,  you  have  not  been  brought  so  far,  and  to 
suffer  so  much,  and  to  witness  such  a  scene,  for 
nothing."  "You  cannot,  nor  can  any  one  con- 
ceive how  precious  Christ  is  to  me  at  this  mo- 
ment." Mr.  Cathcart  could  not  be  present,  as  he 
was  still  confined  to  bed.  She  therefore  sent  an 
affectionate  message  to  him.  Referring  to  his  hav- 
ing supposed  himself  to  be  the  occasion  of  the  fa- 
tal excursion,  (which  she  knew  was  not  the  case,) 
and  calling  him,  as  usual,  by  his  first  name,  "  Tell 
dear  Taylor,  that  a  sparrow  falleth  not  without 


120  MEMOIR    OF 

our  heavenly  Father,  and  that  the  very  hairs  of 
our  heads  are  all  numbered." 

Turning  to  me,  she  also  sent  the  following 
motherly  affectionate  message  to  my  daughter : 
"  Tell  dear  Jessy,  how  much  satisfaction  I  have 
had,  in  the  evidence  I  have  seen  of  the  grace  of 
God  in  her ;  how  much  I  have  rejoiced  in  her 
usefulness,  and  in  that  of  her  dear  husband ;  and 
how  much  I  love  them,  and  their  dear  children ; 
and  tell  them,  I  hope  to  meet  them,  and  their 
children,  both  young  and  old,  (alluding  to  Cath- 
erine, who  had  died  a  few  months  before,  in  in- 
fancy,) in  the  heavenly  world." 

She  thanked  her  medical  attendants  for  their 
exertions  in  her  behalf;  saying,  "May  God  re- 
ward you  in  blessings  to  your  souls,  for  the 
kindness  you  have  shown  to  my  body."  To 
her  old  friend,  Dr.  Macarthur,  she  said,  "  I  hope 
you  will  not  be  the  worse  for  coming  up  here  ; 
— you  have  always  possessed  much  of  my  es- 
teem." 

She  also  thanked  some  very  worthy  persons 
of  the  place,  who  had  attended  as  nurses,  for 
their  care  and  tenderness;  hoping  that  God 
would  bless  to  their  souls,  the  example  they  had 
in  her  of  the  shortness  and  uncertainty  of  hu- 
man life  ;  and  would  impress  them  with  the 
conviction  that  one  thing  is  needful ;  and  lead 
them  to  choose  the  good  part  that  should  not 
be  taken  away ;  or  if  they  had  done  so,  to  prize 
more  and  more,  the  precious  Saviour. 


MRS.   EWING.  121 

To  two  of  her  servants,  who  had  been  sent 
for,  to  assist  in  giving  attendance,  she  said, 
"My  faithful  girls,  I  thank  you  for  all  the  love 
you  have  shown  me,  and  all  the  care  you  have 
taken  of  me.  I  rejoice  in  what  I  have  seen  of 
the  grace  of  God  in  you  ;  and  I  hope  you  will 
be  enabled  to  persevere,  and  especially  in  your 
zealous  endeavours  to  bring  others  to  Christ." 
Then,  turning  to  me,  she  added,  naming  oth- 
er two  at  home,  "  charge  them,  that  they  meet 
rne  as  disciples  of  Christ,  before  the  judgment- 


Mrs.  Cathcart  was  so  ill,  and  had  been  so  ag- 
itated, when  Mrs.  Ewing  was  speaking  to  her, 
that  she  had  to  leave  the  room  immediately  af- 
ter, and  Miss  Cathcart  was  obliged  to  go  with 
her,  and  to  remain  some  little  time.  I  did  not 
observe  when  she  returned,  and  cannot  tell  pre- 
cisely the  occasion  of  what  I  am  going  to  state. 
But  Miss  Cathcart,  looking  earnestly  at  Mrs. 
Ewing,  was  led  to  say,  "  O  that  my  soul  were 
in  that  soul's  place!"  Mrs.  Ewing  promptly 
reminded  her,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  the  Saviour 
of  the  chief  of  sinners,  equally  free  to  all,  and 
the  only  ground  of  a  sinner's  acceptance  and 
hope. 

In  taking  leave  of  me,  she  said,  "  We  have 
been  very  happy  together;  we  have  lived  in  love 
and  harmony  ;  and  it  is  pleasant,  that,  at  part- 
ing, there  is  nothing  to  settle  between  us."  I 
L 


122  MEMOIR    OF 

said,  I  hoped  the  Lord  would  pardon  my  sins- 
against  her.  She  answered,  "  I  hope  the  Lord 
will  pardon  my  sins  against  you.  I  have  been 
a  happy  wife  ;  but  my  greatest  happiness  has 
been  sitting  under  your  ministry."  She  then 
said,  she  had  been  exceedingly  happy  in  the 
Christian  fellowship  she  had  enjoyed ;  in  the 
love  of  the  church  at  all  times,  but  particu- 
larly in  various  additions  of  a  very  interesting 
nature,  especially  from  among  the  children  of 
old  church  members,  which  the  Lord  had 
made  to  it,  that  very  year,  of  which  we  had  of- 
ten before  spoken,  and  which  she  now  remem- 
bered with  pleasure.  She  gave  thanks  to  God, 
(as  indeed  she  had  done  while  yet  on  the  spot,) 
that  in  the  overturn  of  the  carriage,  the  mortal 
injury  had  happened  to  her,  and  not  to  me.  She 
added,  "  I  hope  you  will  be  enabled  to  continue 
your  labours  in  preaching  the  gospel."  Here 
she  raised  her  voice,  and  spoke  with  an  anima- 
tion and  energy,  which  I  hope  I  shall  never 
cease  to  feel.  "Never  relinquish  your  public 
ministry,  while  you  have  strength.  Christ  is  a 
Saviour  who  can  save  to  the  uttermost.  He 
has  plucked  me  as  a  brand  but  of  the  burning. 
If  I  had  ten  thousand  tongues,  and  the  strength 
of  angels,  I  would  tell  the  love  of  God,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  to  dying  sinners." 

She  next  gave  directions  respecting  the  dis- 
posal of  her  body.  "  Bury  me  where  you  are 
likely   to  be  buried  yourself.       You   know  we 


MRS.    EWING.  123 

spoke  of  purchasing  a  place  in  the  crypt,  under 
Dr.  Mitchell's  meeting  house.  But  you  already 
have  a  burial  place  in  the  West  Church-yard,  in 
Edinburgh  ;  and  the  distance  is  not  so  far  from 
here,  as  it  would  have  been  had  I  died  in  Glas- 
gow. You  know  we  are  half  way  here."  Miss 
Cathcart,  recollecting  that  Mrs.  Ewing  had  ex- 
pressed a  wish,  after  Mrs.  Sterling's  funeral,  to 
be  buried  beside  her,  and  other  dear  relatives  of 
her  own  family,  said,  "  I  am  sure  you  would  be 
made  welcome  to  be  buried  in  the  Polloc  burial 
place,  if  you  desired  it."  With  much  earnest- 
ness, she  replied,  "O!  I  would  like  that!" 
"  Well,"  said  I,  "I  promise  you,  that  I  shall  ask 
permission  in  your  name ;  and,  if  granted,  you 
shall  lie  there ;  and  as  for  me,  I  can  be,  at  all 
events,  accommodated  with  a  place  in  the  same 
burial  ground."  I  hope  we  shall  be  together 
both  at  death,  and  at  the  resurrection,  and 
dwell  together  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  forever. 
With  this  promise,  she  signified  her  satisfaction, 
adding,  that  the  matter  was  of  very  inferior  im- 
portance to  the  concerns  of  the  soul. 

She  then  said,  "Commit  my  soul  to  God." 
This  I  instantly  did,  in  a  few  petitions ;  praying 
that  the  Lord  might  not  leave  her  in  the  valley 
and  shadow  of  death— (Here  she  was  heard  to 
say,  "I  am  not  alone, for  God  is  with  me,")  that 
she  might  have  a  short  and  easy  passage  to  the 
heavenly  glory;  and  that  the  Lord  Jesus  might 
receive  her  spirit ! 


124  MEMOIR  OF 

Throughout  the  whole  of  this  closing  scene, 
she  showed  the  most  accurate  attention  to  things 
of  a  minute  nature,  as  well  as  to  matters  of  high 
importance. 

Miss  Cathcart,  having  become  faint,  had  lain 
down  on  a  bed  at  the  other  side  of  the  room. 
Mrs.  Ewing  observed  her, and  said,  "Jane  Cath- 
cart, come  here  to  me,  I  want  to  speak  to  you 
now  of  a  worldly  matter."  When  Miss  Cath- 
cart came,  she  said,  "You  will  find  in  my  book 
at  home,  six  pound-two,  which  I  had  not  time  to 
mark  in  it  before  I  came  away.  It  is  money  col- 
lected for  the  sale  of  ladies'  work,  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  in  the  High- 
lands." 

She  had  remarked,  that  the  pulsation  had  left 
her  wrists.  Some  time  after,  expressing  a  wish 
to  have  the  position  of  her  pillow  changed,  I  let 
go  her  hand,  to  give  place  to  an  attendant,  as 
my  left  arm  was  not  able  to  assist  in  moving  her. 
On  returning,  and  taking  her  hand  again,  I  slip- 
ped my  fore  finger  towards  the  wrist,  to  feel  if 
the  pulse  was  really  gone  ;  never  imagining  that 
she  would  observe  it.  But  she  instantly  said, 
"You  need  not  do  that.  I  told  you  the  pulsa- 
tion had  left  my  wrists ;  and  now  it  is  leaving 
my  heart."  Then,  looking  to  Dr.  Anderson,  she 
said,  "Doctor,  is  the  struggle  ever  long,  after 
the  pulse  has  ceased  in  this  manner  ?  "  "  It  de- 
pends," said  he,  "  on  the  strength  of  the  consti- 
tution."    The  question  was  put,  and  the  answer 


MRS.  EWING. 


125 


received,  with  as  perfect  composure,  as  if  some 
third  person  had  been  the  subject  of  the  in- 
quiry. On  hearing  the  question,  however,  I 
thought  she  was  apprehensive  of  a  long,  and 
perhaps  severe  struggle ;  and  I  was  led  to  pray, 
in  my  heart,  that  if  it  were  the  Lord's  will,  it 
might  neither  be  long  nor  severe.  If  the  prayer 
was  called  for  by  the  occasion,  it  certainly  was 
answered  ;  for  she  was  not  detained  many  min- 
utes longer ;  and  she  could  hardly  be  said  to 
have  any  struggle  at  all.  On  reflection,  I  have 
thought  since,  that  she  asked  the  question,  not 
from  any  apprehension,  but  merely  from  a  wish 
to  know  what  time  might  probably  remain  to  her. 
Very  soon,  indeed,  she  seemed  to  feel  satisfied, 
as  one  who  had  got  an  opportunity  of  saying  all 
that  she  wished  to  say.  Accordingly,  her  last 
notice  of  me,  was  an  address  of  private  person- 
al affection.  With  a  look  and  manner  as  if  she 
would  have  smiled  at  parting,  she  sweetly  said, 
"  I  can  still  see  your  kind  sympathizing  look." 
Faithful,  loving  companion,  it  was  the  last  thing 
thou  didst  attempt  to  see  ! 

In  a  few  moments,  she  added,  "Raise  me  up." 
When  her  request  was  complied  with,  she  clos- 
ed her  own  eyes ;  reclined  her  head  on  the 
friend  who  supported  her;  breathed  a  little 
stronger,  as  one  going  to  sleep ;  the  respirations 
became  gradually  slower,  but  they  were  not  la- 
borious. There  was  not  a  distorted  feature,  nor 
an  agitated  limb ;  it  seemed  as  if  she  had  al- 
ready received  her  gentle  dismission,  when  there 


1^6  MEMOIR    OF 

followed  two  or  three  breathings  more— and  all 
was  over ! 

I  cannot  withhold  these  few   and  scattered 
fragments,  though  conscious  they  convey  no  ad- 
equate idea  of  a  scene,  from  first  to  last,  of  in- 
expressible interest.     It  is  usually  said,  that  for- 
getfulness  is  the  consequence  of  inattention.     It 
may  be  so,  in  the  task  of  committing  to  memo- 
ry, what  we  little  care  for.     But  it  is  not  so,  at 
least  not  always  so,  in  religious    exercises;  nor 
perhaps  in  any    case  of  extraordinary  excite- 
ment.     I  have  learned   by  experience,  that   a 
man  may  be  engaged  most  intently;  and  yet- 
nay,  for  that  very  reason— may  fail  to  remem- 
ber.    No  wonder,  the  prophets  required  a   re- 
storing, guiding  inspiration,  to  enable  them  to 
give  to  others,  especially  to  put  upon  authentic 
record,  a  full  and  faithful  account  of  the  lively 
oracles  of  God,  which  they  had  themselves  pre- 
viously heard,  accompanied  by  heavenly  visions 
which  they  had  themselves  seen.     Like  an  aw- 
fully sublime  heavenly  vision,  my  beloved  wife's 
departure  came  upon  me  suddenly.    It  absorbed 
me  completely  till  the  last  moment;    and   when 
I  found  myself  left  alone,  the  glory  had  passed 
away,  and  I  could  not  recall  it.     I  'heard    many 
words,  which  I  cannot  repeat.     Of  any  thing  I 
said  myself,  I  can  give  almost  no   account.  °  I 
suppose  I  sometimes  spoke,  "not  knowing  what 
I  said."    And  then,  as  to  her,  the  looks,  the  ac- 
cents, the  whole  manner  of  the  ascending  saint, 
should  be  given,  as  well  as  the  language.0 


MRS.   EWING.  127 

I  dare  not  enlarge.  But  lest  the  reader  should 
be  tempted  to  attribute  my  asservations,  rather 
to  my  own  ecstacy,  than  to  any  facts  I  had  to 
narrate,  I  shall  add  the  testimony  of  one  of  the 
medical  gentlemen  present,  well  qualified,  from 
long  practice,  to  form  a  judicious  opinion.  He 
had  given  it,  in  a  letter  announcing  the  event, 
without  any  view  to  publication.  I  saw  it  quot- 
ed in  another  letter,  and  I  hope  he  will  excuse 
the  liberty  I  now  take,  in  quoting  it  again.  "I 
have  seen  many  people  die,  but  I  never  saw  one 
die  in  so  much  confidence,  and  with  so  much 
serenity.  She  was  perfectly  sensible  till  within 
two  minutes  of  her  death  ;  and  as  long  as  she 
could  speak,  continued  to  pray  for  herself,  and 
all  her  friends,  in  language  as  correct  as  she 
could  have  done,  in  her  highest  state  of  health." 

Mrs.  Ewing  died  at  noon  of  the  Lord's  day, 
September  14th,  1828,  aged  55. 

Lines  suggested  by  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Ewing. 

[These  Lines  were  written  by  a  loving  and  much- 
loved  cousin,  now  abroad,  but  who  had,  for  several 
years,  lived  in  the  family.  Providence  brought  her 
seasonably  back  for  awhile,  to  weep  with  the  survivors 
of  the  sad  calamity.  She  writes  as  truly  one  with 
them ;  and  when  she  speaks  in  the  character  of  the 
desolate  widower,  she  conveys,  in  her  own  pathetic  lan- 
guage, the  very  inmost  thoughts  of  his  bleeding  heart.] 

Thou  askest  me  why  tears  suffuse  mine  eyes, 
And  smiles  are  banish'd  from  me  !    Art  thou  then 
A  stranger  in  this  land,  and  knowest  not 
That  she  who  was  our  lov'd  and  prized  one, 


128  MEMOIR   or 

The  key-stone  of  our  friendship's  firm-knit  arch — 
The  clasp  by  which  bands  numberless  were  held — 
The  spring  by  which  all  kindly  streams  were  fed — 
The  prop  on  which  fond  hearts  too  fondly  leaned, 
Is  gone,  and  hath  not  left  her  like  behind  ? 

Thou  knewest  not!  Well,  then,  come  lend  thine  ear, 
And  I  will  try  to  portraiture  her  worth ! 
But  like  all  portraits,  'twill  be  cold  and  tame ; 
The  flesh  and  blood,  the  spirit-stirring  glance, 
The  varying  smile,  the  mantling  cheek,  defy 
The  painter's  mimic  power  ;  and  ah !  much  more 
The  soul's  most  delicate,  enhancing  traits, 
Dwell  in  their  native  beauty  and  true  force, 
Only  in  fond  affection's  secret  cell ! 
Yet  I  will  try ;  for  as  thou  knewest  her  not, 
The  sketch  may  not  seem  worthless  in  thine  eyes. 

Of  manners  gentle,  but  of  soul  sincere, 
And  firm  of  purpose,  duty  found  her  still 
Unshrinking  at  her  post ;  not  merely  there, 
But  with  all  energy,  and  every  nerve 
Strained  to  perform  acknowledged  duty  well. 
Warm  in  affection  as  the  cooing  dove, 
And  tenderly  alive  when  aught  of  ill 
Assailed  the  object  of  her  care  and  love, 
She  was  a  heroine  in  its  highest  sense  ; 
For  pain  and  sickness  borne  without  a  groan, 
And  self  in  every  case,  contemned,  forgot, 
Witnessed  her  high-toned  soul ;  while  day  by  day 
Her  heart,  her  hands,  her  active  powerful  mind, 
Throbbed,  thought,  and  toiled,  for  all  within  her  sphere. 

But  first  in  duty  as  in  love  stood  he 
Who  was  her  husband !     Oh !  that  word  he  was  ! 
What  desolation  speaks  it  to  the  soul ! 
It  tells  of  hourly  tenderness  gone  by, — 


MRS.    EWING.  129 

Of  matchless  excellencies  seen  no  more, 

Of  happy  hours  for  ever,  ever  fled, — 

Of  weary,  solitary  days  to  come ! 

Tells  it  nought  else  ?    Oh  !  yes,  my  coward  heart, 

Think  ou  her  life  in  deeds  of  mercy  spent, 

Think  on  the  years  of  faith  and  patient  hope, 

Think  on  the  many  souls  to  Jesus  won, 

The  unwearied  zeal,  the  countless  plans  of  good, 

Proposed,  matured,  and  set  in  full  career  ; 

Think  above  all  on  her  triumphant  death, 

When  with  a  martyr's  patience,  mid  almost 

A  martyr's  sufferings,  she  displayed  to  all, 

Religion's  power  to  unsting  death,  and  pour 

A  deathless  glory  round  a  dying  bed. 

That  smile,  that  thrilling  smile  !  I  see  it  still, 
By  which,  with  a  most  tender  guile,  she  strove 
To  hide  from  me  the  torture  she  endured  ! 
I  hear  her  dying  charge,  it  cheers  me  on, 
"  Preach,  preach,"  she  cried, "  the  word  of  saving  truth- 
Preach  Christ,  how  precious  to  the  parting  soul '" 
And  tho'  her  pulses  had  forgot  to  beat, 
Tho'  life  was  quitting  its  last  post,— her  heart, 
With  truth's  own  eloquence  she  warned,  she  pled 
To  win,  or  to  confirm,  in  Jesus'  ways. 
Then,  the  last  look  her  breaking  eyes  could  gho 
Was  bent  on  me,  her  latest  look  of  love. 

Say,  then,  if 'tis  not  a  soul-soothing  thought, 
I  was  her  husband !  but  more  soothing  still, 
A  little  moment,  and  we  meet  again  !— 
A  little  moment !  and  I  join  her  side, 
To  love,  to  praise,  to  wonder  and  adore  !— 
A  little  moment!  and  my  tears  are  past; 
We  meet  again  !  oh,  bliss !  to  part  no  more  I 
M 


130  MEMOIR  or 

Sir  John  Maxwell  having,  in  the  handsomest 
manner,  consented  to  his  sister's  dying  wish  as 
to  the  place  of  her  burial,  she  was  buried,  on 
Saturday,  the  20th  September,  1828,  at  East- 
wood, in  the  Polloc  Vault. 


Extract  from  a  Sermon  delivered  in  Eastwood  church . 
on  Sabbath,  21st  September,  upon  the  occasion  of 
the  much  lamented  death  of  Mrs.  Eiving ;  from 
Phil.  i.  21.  "For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and 
to  die  is  gain."  By  the  Rev.  George  Loga>, 
Minister  of  Eastwood. 

[This  honourable  testimony,  to  Mrs.  Ewing,  is  valued 
as  given  in  the  parish  church  of  her  native  parish,  by 
one  who  was  acquainted  with  her  several  years,  and 
whom  she  always  esteemed  as  a  brother  in  Christ,  and 
a  faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel.] 

"  Most  of  you  will  perceive  that  we  have  been 
led  to  the  subject  upon  which  we  have  this  day 
been   addressing   you,   by  the  much   lamented 
death  of  an  excellent  Christian  Lady,  wife  of  an 
eminent  minister  in  the  neighbouring  city,  and 
nearly  related  to  an  honourable  family  in  this 
parish.     Her  death  was  occasioned  by  one  of 
those  events,  which  we  are  wont  to  call  acci- 
dents, all  of  which,  however,  are  under  the  di- 
rection and  control  of  a  holy,  wise,  and  gracious 
Providence.     She  went  out  in  health,  accompa- 
nied by   a  few  friends,  and  in  circumstances 


MRS.    EWING.  131 

from  which  no  danger  could  beforehand  be  ap- 
prehended, but  ere  she  returned,  she  met  with 
a  fracture,  which  in  the  course  of  a  very  few 
days  terminated  in  the  dissolution  of  the  earthly 
tabernacle.  Let  us  not  say,  where,  in  such  a 
case,  was  the  Ruler  of  the  Universe  ?  why  did 
he  not  interpose  for  the  preservation  of  his  ser- 
vant ?  The  Lord  is  in  the  heavens :  He  doth 
whatsoever  pleaseth  him:  He  giveth  not  ac- 
count of  any  of  his  matters.  It  was  his  will, 
that  she,  in  this  way,  should  finish  her  earthly 
course,  and  enter  into  the  joy  of  her  Lord ;  and 
it  is  the  duty  of  all  concerned  to  acquiesce  in 
the  Divine  appointment,  and  to  say,  The  will 
of  the  Lord  be  done. 

"  I  feel  myself  unable  to  give  any  thing  like  a 
just  description  of  her  character.  Called  in  her 
youth  to  the  knowledge  and  belief  of  the  truth, 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  she  felt  its  power,  and  lived 
habitually  under  its  influence.  Though  born  and 
educated  in  what  is  called  high  life,  she  renounc- 
ed, without  becoming  peevish  and  morose,  the 
pomp  and  vanities  of  the  world,  and  was,  in  all  re- 
spects, a  devout,  active,  and  exemplary  Christian. 
She  endeavoured  by  every  mean  in  her  power 
to  do  good.  She  was  unwearied  in  her  atten- 
tion to  the  poor,  especially  of  her  own  sex,  sup- 
plying their  wants,  imparting  to  them,  by  books, 
and  otherwise,  religious  instruction,  and,  in 
every  possible  way,  ministering  to  their  comfort. 
She  rejoiced  in  the  prosperity  of  Bible  and  Mis- 


132  MEMOIR    OF 

sionary  Societies,  and  of  every  Association  that 
tended  to  enlarge  the  boundaries  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom,  and  advance  the  interests  of 
true  and  undefiled  religion,  whether  at  home  or 
abroad ;  and  laboured  to  promote  their  success 
by  her  contributions,  by  her  personal  exertions, 
and,  I  doubt  not,  by  her  frequent  and  fervent 
prayers.  Though  attached,  from  principle,  to 
her  own  particular  denomination,  she  was  by 
no  means  of  a  narrow  contracted  spirit,  but  en- 
tertained a  good  opinion  of  all,  who,  she  appre- 
hended, had  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  and 
were  studious  of  walking  in  him.  I  have  not 
learned  the  particulars  of  what  passed,  when 
she  was  laid  upon  the  bed  of  affliction,  and  had 
death  in  immediate  prospect :  only,  in  general, 
that  the  whole  scene  was  very  edifying,  that  she 
was  then  entirely  resigned  to  the  Divine  will, 
and  rejoiced  in  the  hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 
It  may  be  truly  said  of  her,  that  for  her  to  live, 
was  Christ,  and  we  have  no  reason  to  entertain 
the  smallest  doubt,  that  death  hath  been  to  her 
exceeding  great  an  eternal  gain.  Now  she  hath 
joined  the  general  Assembly  and  Church  of 
the  first  born  in  heaven,  and  hath  attained  to 
a  perfection  of  knowledge,  holiness,  and  hap- 
piness, of  which  we  can  form  at  present  no 
adequate  conception.  And  could  she  hold  any 
communication  with  us  below,  we  might  sup- 
pose her  to  address  her  many  weeping  friends 
in  the  words  of  our  Lord  to  his  disciples  previous 


MRS.    EWING.  133 

to  his  departure,  'If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  re- 
joice because  I  have  gone  to  the  Father.  Bless- 
ed truly  are  the  dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
They  rest  from  their  labours  and  their  works 
do  follow  them.'  Let  us  be  followers  of  them, 
who  through  faith  and  patience  now  inherit  the 
promises,  and  not  flatter  ourselves  with  the  hope 
of  dying  the  death  of  the  righteous,  unless  we 
be  found  walking  in  the  way  of  faith  and  holi- 


Extractfrom  a  Sermon,  preached  in  Nile  Street 
Chapel,  Glasgow,  in  the  afternoon  of  Lord's  day, 
Sept.  21st,  1828 ;  on  occasion  of  the  lamented 
death  of  Mrs.  Greville  Ewing,  by  Ralph  Ward- 
law,  D.  D.  from  1  Cor.  xv.  28.  "  Christ  the 
first-fruits  ;  afterward  they  that  are  Christ's  at 
his  coming." 

[Although  the  next  testimony  has  already  been  ex- 
tensively published,  this  Memoir  would  be  very  defi- 
cient, indeed,  were  a  document  of  so  much  excellence 
not  to  appear  again,  along  with  others,  in  its  proper  con- 
nexion and  order.  It  is  well  known  to  be  the  testimony 
of  the  mourning  survivor's  nearest  brother  in  the  min- 
istry, given  from  long  acquaintance,  and  friendship, 
and  in  that  style  of  appropriate  elegance,  and  affection- 
ate sympathy,  which  are  characteristic  of  the  excellent 
author,  and  which  were  never  more  highly  appreciated 
than  on  this  occasion.] 

"You  have  already  anticipated  me  in  the  first 
and  most  immediate  improvement  of  this  sub- 
ject,— a  subject  in  itself  so  full  of  interest. — What 


134  MEMOIR    OF 

rich  and  substantial  consolation  it  yields  us  un- 
der the  loss,  by  death  of  Christian  friends ! — And 
who  is  there  amongst  us,  that  may  not  truly  say 
this  afternoon,  I  have  lost  a  friend?  There  are 
some,  who  from  intimacy  of  connexion,  and  ac- 
quaintance with  character,  and  experience  of 
kindness,  will  utter  the  sentiment  with  a  deeper 
emotion  than  others  ;  but  she  whose  sudden 
and  unexpected  departure  we  are,  with  one 
heart,  uniting  to  deplore,  was  eminently  the 
friend  of  all. — But  when  Christians  speak  of 
losing  such  a  friend,  let  them  think  what  they 
mean,  and  beware  of  forgetting  their  spiritual 
relations  and  their  blessed  hopes.  Those  who 
fall  asleep  in  Jesus  are  not  lost  to  those  who  sur- 
vive them.  They  are  only  parted  from  them  for 
a  time,  to  meet  again, — and  to  meet  at  home. 
They  are  no  more  lost,  than  a  dear  friend  is  lost 
who  goes  home  before  us,  after  we  have  sojourn- 
ed for  a  while  at  a  distance,  and  whom  we  are 
soon  to  follow,  and  know  where  to  find. — But  to 
our  society,  our  counsels,  our  plans,  and  our 
labours  here  below,  they  are  lost ;  and  the  loss 
will  be  deeply  and  lastingly  felt,  in  proportion 
to  the  greatness  and  variety  of  the  excellencies 
by  which,  in  life,  they  were  distinguished  and 
endeared. 

"  I  am  well  aware,  that  in  thus  publicly 
speaking  of  our  departed  friend,  I  am  doing 
what  might  expose  me  to  her  own  censure  : — 
'Speak  not  of  me,'  she  would  say  ;    'speak  of 


MRS.    EAVING.  135 

Christ.' — My  only  vindication  is,  that,  in  speak- 
ing of  the  excellencies  which  the  grace  of  Christ 
produced,  I  am  speaking  of  Christ.  I  am  hon- 
ouring that  grace.  I  am  recommending  his  gos- 
pel, in  the  faith  of  which  they  had  their  origin, 
their  stability,  and  their  growth. — Of  whatever 
principle  of  goodness  there  was  in  her  charac- 
ter, and  of  whatever  she  was  enabled  to  do  for 
the  glory  of  her  Saviour,  and  for  the  benefit, 
temporal  or  spiritual,  of  her  fellow  creatures, 
she  herself  would  have  said,  in  the  humble  spirit 
of  self-renunciation, — 'Yet  not  I,  but  the  grace 
of  God  which  was  with  me.' 

"  The  faith  of '  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God,' — of  free  and  sovereign  mercy  to  sinners 
through  the  merits  and  intercession  of  the  di- 
vine Mediator,  was  deeply  settled  in  her  spirit- 
ually enlightened  understanding,  and  had  a 
strong  and  steadfast  hold  of  the  affections  of 
her  heart.  It  was  the  animating  impulse  and 
ruling  principle  of  her  whole  conduct.  It 
wrought  by  love.  It  overcame  the  world,  both 
in  its  intimidations  and  in  its  allurements  ;  in- 
ducing her,  not  with  reluctant  submission,  but 
with  cheerful  gratitude,  to  'deny  herself,  and 
take  up  the  cross,  and  follow  Jesus,' — imitating 
and  serving  him,  confessing  his  Name,  and  seek- 
ing his  glory.  Her  views  of  evangelical  truth 
were  clear,  simple,  scriptural, — drawn,  not  from 
human  systems,  but  from  the  word  of  God,— 
not  from  cisterns,  but  from  the  fountain-head. 


136 


MEMOIR    OF 


They  were  those  of  an  understanding  naturally 
vigorous,  under  the  enlightening  influence  of 
the  Divine  Spirit. — The  word  and  ordinances  of 
God  were  her  delight;  and  she  sought  from 
them,  agreeably  to  the  ends  for  which  they  were 
given,  the  enlargement  of  spiritual  knowledge, 
the  confirmation  of  spiritual  principles,  and  the 
sustenance  and  excitement  of  spiritual  affections. 
Warmly  attached,  from  conscientious  conviction, 
to  the  particular  form  of  Christian  profession 
which  her  examination  of  the  sacred  volume 
had  led  her  to  embrace,  she  yet  regarded  that 
form,  not  as  an  end,  but  as  a  means, — an  out- 
ward institute  for  an  inward  spiritual  purpose, 
and  its  adaptation  to  that  purpose  as  constitu- 
ting its  divine  excellence. 

"Her  religion  was  characterized  by  a  cheerful 
seriousness, — the  cheerfulness  as  remote  from 
levity,  as  the  seriousness  from  gloom.  Few 
Christians  could  enjoy  with  a  livelier  relish  the 
pleasures  of  social  intercourse.  She  entered, 
with  an  easy  vivacity,  into  the  ordinary  topics 
and  daily  occurrences  of  life  ;  but  religious  con- 
versation wras  her  peculiar  delight.  On  such 
occasions,  her  eye  and  countenance  assumed 
the  most  interesting  variations  of  expression, — 
alternately  fixed  in  deep  and  thoughtful  serious- 
ness,— sparkling  with  animation, — or  lighted  up 
with  a  smile  of  benignity,  of  which  no  one  who 
has  ever  seen  it  can  lose  the  impression.  Her  pi- 
ety was  not  meditative  and  contemplative  merely ; 


MRS.    EWING.  137 

it  was  eminently  and  habitually  practical.  It 
put  its  consistent  influence  into  every  thing. 
Her  eye  was  single.  Guided  by  one  principle — 
a  simple  regard  to  her  Lord's  will — her  deport- 
ment was  marked  by  a  beautiful  harmony.  She 
was  an  example  of  readiness  to  every  good 
work ;  and  few  are  the  objects  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence that  will  not,  directly  or  indirectly,  in 
a  greater  or  less  degree,  miss  her  willing  and 
efficient  efforts.  Of  her  it  might  with  truth  be 
said — not  indeed  in  the  same  sense  as  of  the 
apostle,  but  in  such  ways  as  were  consistent 
with  the  proprieties  of  her  sex  and  situation — 
that  '  there  came  upon  her  daily  the  care  of  all 
the  churches.'  She  grieved  for  their  declension, 
and  rejoiced  in  their  prosperity,  and  '  sought 
their  good  alway.'  Her  interest  in  the  success 
of  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  in  the  destitute 
parts  of  Scotland  was  peculiarly  lively ;  and  it 
evinced  itself  in  an  extensive  and  constant  cor- 
respondence for  the  reception  and  communica- 
tion of  intelligence,  in  unwearied  efforts  for 
procuring  the  requisite  pecuniary  means,  and  in 
devising  and  suggesting  methods  of  more  suc- 
cessful exertion,  and  more  enlarged  usefulness. 
The  pastors  of  the  churches,  in  their  persons, 
families,  and  flocks,  were  the  objects  of  her 
incessantly  kind  solicitude.  Like  the  Tryphe- 
nas  and  Tryphosas,  the  Marys  and  Priscillas 
of  apostolic  days,  she  was  emphatically  'a  suc- 
courer  of  many :'  nor  is  there  a  minister  hi  the 


138  MEMOIR    OF 

Union,  especially  in  the  poorer  and  remoter  dis- 
tricts, who  will  not  feel  that  he  has  lost  a  friend. 
But  her  concern  for  the  success  of  the  gospel 
was  far  from  being  limited  and  local.  In  its 
wishes  and  prayers,  and,  as  far  as  ability  could 
reach,  in  its  practical  exertions,  it  embraced  not 
Scotland  merely,  but  the  whole  world. 

"  There  are  present  those  of  her  kindred  who 
would  bear  me  out  in  an  ample  and  honourable 
testimony  to  the  tenderness  and  vigour  of  her 
domestic  and  relative  affections  ;  to  the  kind  and 
steady  consistency  with  which  they  were  exer- 
cised in  all  the  walks  of  private  life  ;  to  her  high- 
toned  integrity  and  freedom  from  selfishness,  in 
whatever  regarded  her  own  interests;  and  to  her 
generous  anxiety  rather  to  make  a  sacrifice  of 
these,  than  leave  the  slightest  room  for  any  mis- 
understanding of  her  motives,  or  reflection  upon 
her  Christian  principles.  And  there  are  now 
hearing  me  not  a  few,  who  would  raise  their 
united  voices  to  support  me  in  saying,  that  her 
friendships  were  never  friendships  of  'word  on- 
ly.' As  her  benevolence  could  in  no  instance  be 
satisfied  with  saying,  'Depart  in  peace,  lie  warm- 
ed, be  filled,'  be  clothed,  bo  instructed,  be  heal- 
ed; — so  was  it  with  her  friendships.  They  were 
friendships  of  real  heartfelt  sympathy  with  the 
joys  and  the  sorrows  of  their  objects, — friend- 
ships of  active,  substantial,  self-denying  kind- 
ness, minutely  and  considerately  mindful  of 
every  circumstance  that  might  contribute  to  the 


MRS.    EWING.  139 

comfort  and  enjoyment  of  those  whose  good  it 
sought, — setting  her  wits  immediately  to  work, 
to  devise  means  of  benefit,  and  to  bring  these 
means  to  bear  on  the  accomplishment  of  her 
end.  She  helped  where  she  could;  and  where 
she  could  not  help,  she  counselled,  and  comfort- 
ed, and  prayed. 

"Her  life,  in  a  word,  was  a  happy  exemplifi- 
cation of  the  practical  religion  of  the  Bible: — 
as  she  made  no  secret  of  her  principles,  but 
'confessed  with  her  mouth'  what  she  'believed 
with  her  heart,'  her  practice  was  eminently  cal- 
culated to  recommend  the  religion  she  profess- 
ed ; — to  give  it  a  testimony  in  the  consciences 
even  of  those  by  whom  its  principles  were  nev- 
er embraced ; — to  foster  every  gracious  impres- 
sion in  those  *  whose  hearts  God  had  touched,' 
and  win  them  by  its  convincing  and  persua- 
sive influence; — and,  where  she  could  not  be 
loved  and  welcomed  on  account  of  her  reli- 
gion, to  constrain  esteem  and  admiration  in  spite 
of  it. 

"  In  such  cases,  my  brethren,  the  excellencies 
which  make  us  feel  our  loss  are  happily  at  the 
same  time  our  consolation  under  it.  They  at 
once  wound  and  heal.  They  make  the  disrup- 
tion of  the  tie  that  bound  us  to  our  departed 
friends  the  more  violent  and  painful;  yet  are 
they  balm  to  the  bleeding  heart.  We  call  them 
to  remembrance,  in  our  gloomiest  hours,  with 
a  pensive  pleasure  ;  and  our  faithful  memories, 


140  MEMOIR    OF 

even  while  they  open  the  fountains  of  sorrow, 
become  our  most  efficient  comforters.  They  give 
us  the  most  delightfully  soothing  and  strength- 
ening of  all  assurances — the  assurance  that  our 
friends  to  whom  it  was  'Christ  to  live,'  have  found 
it '  gain  to  die ' — that  having  lived  to  the  Lord,and 
died  to  the  Lord,  they  are  gone  to  be  with  him. 
And,  although  it  is  not  from  the  sayings  of  a 
deathbed,  but  from  the  consistent  doings  of  pre- 
vious practical  godliness,  that  we  derive  our 
confidence  respecting  the  unfeigned  faith  of  our 
fellow-Christians,  and  the  reality  of  their  inter- 
est in  the  grace  of  the  Saviour,  yet  it  is  no  in- 
considerable ground  of  congratulation  and 
thankfulness,  when  a  godly  life  is  closed  with  a 
dying  testimony. 

"To  all  our  comforts,  on  the  present  occa- 
sion, this  has  been  mercifully  superadded. — 
From  the  moment  of  the  melancholy  catastro- 
phe, to  the  moment  when  she  drew  her  last 
breath,  the  mind  of  our  dear  departed  friend  en- 
joyed the  most  undisturbed  serenity.  All  was 
satisfaction  and  peace.  There  was  never  a 
whisper  of  complaint — never  the  breathing  of  a 
wish  that  any  one  circumstance  had  been  oth- 
erwise than  the  providence  of  her  heavenly  Fa- 
ther had  ordered  it.  When  sensible  that  her 
case  was  critical,  and  that  her  end  drew  near, 
she  addressed  words  of  appropriate  consolation 
and  counsel  to  the  friends  and  domestics  that 
were  upon  the  spot,  and  gave  in  commission 


MRS.    EWING.  141 

special  messages,  full  of  faithful  affection,  and 
all  bearing  on  their  best  interests,  to  be  deliver- 
ed to  others.  With  the  most  perfect  connected- 
ness of  mind,  anticipating  her  speedy  removal, 
and  anxious  to  omit  nothing  which  it  was  right 
for  her  to  say  or  do.  She  gave  directions,  re- 
garding herself,  regarding  those  surviving  friends 
whose  welfare  and  whose  usefulness  were  so 
dear  to  her  heart,  and  regarding  objects  of  be- 
nevolence, about  which  her  interest  remained 
with  her  to  the  last.  Fortitude  and  resignation 
in  suffering  had  characterized  her  through  life  ; 
and  they  were  displayed,  with  singular  constan- 
cy, from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of  its  last 
distressing  scene.  She  watched  her  own  ebb- 
ing pulse — marking  when  it  left  her  arm,  and 
when  it  ceased  at  her  heart : — and  so  perfectly 
peaceful  was  her  departure,  that  it  could  not  be 
known,  by  those  who  were  silently  awaiting  it, 
which  was  her  parting  breath." 

Written  on  Monday,  September  22d,  ivhen  Lady 
Maxwell  visited  Mrs.  Ewing's  grave,  in  East- 
wood Church  Yard. 

[These  lines  were  read  by  Lady  Maxwell  with  many 
tears,  after  her  return  from  the  grave ;  and  they  were 
then  transmitted  by  her  to  the  widower,  to  whom  they 
had  been  kindly  dedicated  by  the  author,with  the  expres- 
sion of  a  hope  that  they  would  please  him.  They  do 
indeed  please  him,  both  for  their  own  merits  as  a  belov- 
ed niece's  effusion  of  mournful  and  affectionate  regard 
for  the  memory  of  a  beloved  aunt ;  and  also  for  the  op- 
portunity they  afford  him,  and  of  which  he   eagerly 


142  MEMOIR    OF 

avails  himself,  to  acknowledge,  that  this  is  one  of  very 
many  gratifying  and  substantial  proofs  of  kind  attention 
and  friendly  regard,  which  he  has  long  received  from 
the  whole  of  that  loved  and  honoured  family  ;  and  never 
more  than  since  the  blow  came,  which  might  have 
been  supposed  to  have  broke  the  connexion.] 

Here  rests  with  her  fathers,  all  calmly  reposing. 
As  fervent  a  Christian  as  ever  had  breath, 
Who  parted  so  gently  with  life  at  its  closing, 
It  seem'd  to  be  only  the  semblance  of  death. 

No  hero  in  ancient,  or  modern  story, 
No  warrior  panting  for  honour  and  fame, 
No  scholar  who  dreaded  to  tarnish  his  glory, 
Ere  yielded  up  life  with  a  steadier  frame. 

The  arrow  was  sped !  and  the  spark  was  extinguished 
In  triumphs  of  joy — through  the  faith  she  possessed  ; 
And  those  she  most  loved,  in  a  moment  relinquished, 
With  pray'rs  that  they  all  might  be  found  with  the  blest. 

No  sculpture  adorns  her  !  no  epitaph  rises  ! 
In  classical  guise,  to  emblazon  her  birth  ; 
The  poor  and  the  helpless  her  memory  prizes, 
The  sick  and  the  sorrowful  speak  of  her  worth. 

'Twas  not  an  ephemeral  kindness  that  perished, 
Or  owed  its  existence  to  effort  and  toil ; 
'Twas  not  an  exotic  that  needs  must  be  cherished, 
The  flower  was  indigenous,  sprung  from  the  soil. 

So  boundless  her  love  for  the  whole  of  creation, 
She  had  not  a  blessing  too  great  to  impart, 
She  would  have  spread  knowledge  from  nation  to  nation, 
And  told  them  of  Jesus,  the  hope  of  her  heart. 


MRS.    EWING.  143 

For  if  there  was  aught  that  unusually  brightened 
Her  radiant  eyes  with  her  happiest  smiles, 
It  was  when  the  Christian  soldier  enlightened. 
Or  planted  the  standard  of  Christ  in  the  isles. 

Her  song  was  redemption !  and  now  she  is  reaping, 
The  fruits  of  her  faithfulness,  ardour,  and  worth  ; 
Her  ashes  in  peace  with  her  ancestors  sleeping, 
Her  spirit  with  him,  who;n  she  worshipp'd  on  earth. 

A  Brief  Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  Mrs.  Greville 
Ewing. 

[These  lines  were  written  by  Bernard  Barton,  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  well  known  for 
many  excellent  poetical  works,  and  very  kindly  con- 
tributed by  him  to  be  engraven  on  mourning  cards, 
and  presented  to  the  sale  of  Ladies'  Work,  at  Edinburgh, 
in  March,  1829.  for  the  support  of  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  in  the  Highlands  and  Islands,  in  which  Mrs. 
Ewing  took  an  interest.] 

"She  being  dead  yet  9peaketh." 

When  sets  the  sun — his  parted  splendours  fill 
With  glowing  brightness  all  the  western  sky  ; 

When  fades  the  Rose — its  ling' ring  fragrance  still 
Tells  that  its  sweetest  charm  can  death  defy. 

E'en  so  departed  Saint!  should  thoughts  of  thee 
Survive  thyself,  our  sorrows  to  reprove  ; 

With  angel  tongue  thy  witnesses  to  be 

In  every  work  of  Faith,  and  Hope,  and  Love. 

Thy  hallowed  Memory,  and  thy  spotless  name, 
Thy  fervent  piety,  and  fearless  zeal ; 

These  still  should  advocate  each  Christian  aim, 
And  yet  for  charity's  blest  cause  appeal. 


144  MEMOIR    OF 

Thus  from  the  grave  thy  voice  may  now  be  heard, 
Pleading,  on  earth,  for  Heaven's  eternal  bliss, 

And  human  hearts,  by  thy  example  stirred, 
Rejoice  to  labour  in  a  task  like  this. 

Bernard  Barton. 

Woodbridge,  Suffolk,  \ 
1st  JVJonfA  24th,  1829.  > 

A  Tribute  to  the  Memory,  of  Mrs.  Ewing,  also 
intended  for  the  sale  of  Ladies'  Work. 

[This  is  most  gratefully  acknowledged  as  the  contri 
bution  of  an  unknown  friend,  a  minister  in  Suffolk.] 

Say,  sister  spirit,  what  celesti  al  band 
Came  to  conduct  thee  to  thy  starry  land  ; 
And  why  so  soon — and  why  at  such  a  time 
Wast  thou  transported  to  the  heavenly  clime  ! 
Who  could  have  thought  in  such  a  lovely  scene, 
The  pathway  to  the  grave  would  intervene ; 
That  where  the  cascade  falls  with  awful  sound, 
And  nature  spreads  her  magic  charms  around ; 
That  there  the  harbinger  of  death  would  come, 
And  the  first  step  be  taken  to  the  tomb. 

Mysterious  power  that  governs  man's  affairs, 
Fixes  our  bounds  and  measures  out  our  years  ; 
'Tis  thine  to  wither  pleasure's  cheerful  day, 
'Tis  thine  to  lead  thro'  sorrow's  darksome  way. 
'Tis  thine  in  youth  or  age  to  bid  us  go 
Thro'  death's  lone  path,  and  leave  this  world  below. 
And  all  thou  dost  is  right ;  and  all  designed 
To  show  the  wisdom  of  the  Eternal  Mind  ; 
And  teach  thy  creatures,  while  they  see  the  rod, 
Calmly  to  bow  and  know  that  thou  art  God. 

Shall  we  then  grieve  that  we  have  lost  a  friend ; 
Shall  we,  dear  Ewing,  mourn  thy  peaceful  end  ? 


MRS.    EWING.  145 

Nature  must  weep,  but  memory  soothes  the  mind. 
With  all  the  virtues  thou  hast  left  behind ; 
Thy  fair  example  gladly  would  we  trace  ; 
Thy  holy  life,  thy  every  modest  grace, 
Thy  ardent  zeal  to  send  each  Highland  clan, 
The  word  that  Heaven  reveals  to  guilty  man. 
Then,  sister  spirit,  we  will  weep  no  more, 
But  follow  thee  till  life's  short  days  are  o'er, 
And  at  the  cross  in  sweet  submission  bend, 
Learn  of  the  Saviour; — imitate  the  friend  ; 
And  wait  the  hour  till  we  are  called  to  come, 
And  mingle  with  thee  in  thy  heavenly  home. 
Wrentham,  Jan.  28,  1829. 

Lines  on  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Ewing. 

[These  lines  are  by  a  young  man,  who  had  lived  3. 
season  as  an  inmate  in  the  family,  of  which  he  was  a  re- 
lation, in  order  to  attend  College  ;  who  knew  Mrs.  Ew- 
ing's  manner  of  life,  and  had  experience  of  her  parental 
care  and  kindness.] 

Come,  thou  scoffer,  come,  behold 

This  our  Ewing's  closing  scene! 
Though  her  heart  is  waxing  cold, 

Not  a  gloom  can  intervene 
To  disturb  the  heavenly  peace 
Of  her  spirit  near  release. 

Hark  !  the  voice  of  Death,  he  comes  1 

Softly  sound,  ye  notes  of  grief! 
Its  last  ray  the  eye  illumes, 

Ray  that  marks  the  soul's  relief, 
Now  th'  immortal  mounts  the  sky, 
There  to  dwell  with  Christ  on  high. 
N 


146  MEMOIR    OF 

Could  the  gospel,  which  that  hour 
Soothed  her  mind,  be  but  a  tale  ? 

Could  aught  but  Almighty  power 
So  remove  death's  dark'ning  veil? 

Give  the  peace  that  she  enjoyed  ? 

Breathe  the  words  that  she  employed  r 

Come,  thou  child  of  Jesus,  too  ! 

See  this  new-born  spirit  fly  ! 
See  what  Christ  has  wrought  for  you 

Ev'n  in  death  a  victory  ; 
Victory,  complete,  and  full, 
Over  Satan's  iron  rule. 

0  ye  careless  !  think  again  ! 

Ere  you  scout  the  promis'd  bliss  ; 
Trust  in  Him  who  died !  and  then 

Fruit  shall  robe  your  wilderness  ; 
Fruit  that  never  shall  decay, 
Rip'ning  to  the  perfect  day. 

Harps  of  holiest  spirits  gone  ! 

All  ye  choirs  of  bliss  above  ! 
Sweetly  sound  your  noblest  tone  ! 

Praising  loud  the  Lord  of  love. 
Sav'd  by  God's  almighty  hand, 
Now  another  joins  your  band. 

Lord  !  lead  mourners  left  behind 
To  the  grace  that  stayed  her  soul ; 

That  alone  can  calm  the  mind 

While  the  world's  proud  tempests  roll ; 

Guide  through  all  the  ills  of  time, 

To  a  high,  a  heavenly  clime. 

R.  J.  JN. 
Glasgow,  March,  1829. 


MRS.    EWING.  147 

Much  of  the  compassion  of  God  has  been 
shown  to  the  writer  of  this  Memoir,  in  his  afflic- 
tion, through  the  instrumentality  of  his  Chris- 
tian friends.  They  have  very  tenderly  sympa- 
thized with  him;  they  have  rendered  him  num- 
berless kind,  and  acceptable  services  ;  they  have 
earnestly  remembered  him  in  their  prayers,  and 
have  been  stirred  up,  on  his  account,  to  greater 
importunity  in  prayer.  In  no  way  have  their 
exertions  come  home  more  effectually  to  his  re- 
lief, than  in  many  excellent  letters  of  condolence 
and  consolation,  with  which  he  has  been  favour- 
ed. He  begs  to  express  his  deeply  felt  obliga- 
tions publickly,  because  he  has  not  had  either 
strength  or  spirits,  to  make  those  private  and 
personal  acknowledgments,  which  were  justly 
due,  in  each  particular  instance. 

But  how  shall  he  make  them,  in  the  most  ap- 
propriate manner  ?  He  hopes  it  will  not  give  of- 
fence, if  he  acton  the  persuasion,  that  the  letters 
referred  to  cannot  be  more  suitably  acknowledged, 
than  by  being  published.  They  will  thus  crown 
the  monument  which  his  trembling  hand  has  been 
attempting  to  rear  to  his  beloved,  lamented  wife, 
whom  his  sympathizing  correspondents  have, 
with  sacred  poets,  and  gospel  heralds,  delighted 
to  honour.  The  widower,  whom  they  have  done 
so  much  to  console,  will  have  them,  at  all  times, 
on  his  table,  for  his  own  'benefit ;  and  they  will 
furnish  a  lasting  store  of  instruction  and  com- 


148  MEMOIR    OF 

fort  for  the  benefit  of  others,  since  the  cup  of 
sorrow  is  always  circulating. 

In  many  respects,  he  conceives  that  the  letters 
form  the  most  important,  and  perhaps  the  most 
acceptable  part  of  this  little   volume.      Every 
reader  is,  for  the  time,  treated  as  the  letter-wri- 
ter's companion.      The   letters   given    already, 
were  the  writer's  principal   encouragement  to 
draw  up  this  Memoir.     No  kind  of  reading  can 
be  more  easy,  or  attractive,  to  the  afflicted,  than 
suitable  communications  of  this  nature.     They 
are  short,  pointed,  warm,  diversified,  and  confi- 
dential.    They  are  at  once  of  general  interest, 
and  receive  life   and  force  from  being  written, 
under  the  influence  of  a  great  sensation,  on  a 
trying  occasion,  to   a   particular   friend.      The 
afflicted  person  will  read  a  letter,  when  he  has 
not  inclination,  or  power,  to  read  any  thing  else. 
And  the  benevolence  which  prompted  the  es- 
teemed, the  dearly  loved  writers,  to  make  such 
an  effort  for  one,  will  not  be  disappointed  by  see- 
ing their  highly  prized  services  made  available 
for  many. 

It  is  only  a  selection  that  can  be  attempted. 
No  names  will  be  published,  in  letters  of  strictly 
private  friendship:  Greater  liberty  will  be  taken 
in  letters  written  by  public  men,  especially  in 
those  written  by  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  in 
a  way,  comparatively,  of  a  public  nature.  All 
private  matters  will  be  omitted.  Although, 
therefore,  he  has  not  been  able  to  ask  leave  pre- 


MRS.     EWING. 


149 


viously  in  each  particular  case,  and  has  even 
been  afraid  to  do  so  lest  he  should  encounter  a 
refusal,  the  receiver  of  these  excellent  letters 
humbly  hopes  he  may  show  his  gratitude  to  his 
correspondents,  and  his  desire  to  impart  to  com- 
panions in  tribulation,  the  balm  which  has  done 
so  much  towards  mitigating  the  sufferings  of  his 
own  mind,  without  hurting  the  feelings,  or  in- 
curring the  displeasure,  of  those  who  have  laid 
him  under  unspeakable  obligations,  by  the  love 
they  have  shown  to  the  dead,  and  to  the  living ; 
who,  in  the  spirit  of  genuine  compassion,  must 
have  real  pleasure  in  comforting  all  that  are 
cost  down ;  and  who  cannot  possibly  find  in  the 
publication  of  their  letters,  any  thing  of  theirs 
which  does  not  do  them  honour.  The  letters 
are  subjoined  in  the  order  of  their  dates. 

The  writer  of  the  Memoir  had  written  thus 
far  when  there  were  put  into  his  hands,  two  let- 
ters by  the  subject  of  the  memoir,  written  for 
the  very  purpose  of  consoling  an  afflicted  fami- 
ly, under  two  successive  bereavements,  and  kind- 
ly transmitted  by  them  for  this  publication.  Too 
late  to  be  inserted  earlier,  th«y  must  take  a  place 
here  also  ;  where  they  will  be  found  sweetly  to 
harmonize  with  all  that  shall  follow.  According 
to  the  proposed  order  of  dates,  they  of  course 
come  first. 


150  MEMOIR    OF 

"  Glasgow,  17th  JVov.  1821. 
"  My  dear  Miss  Y g, 

"  Mr.  Ewing  and  I  most  sincerely  sympathize 
with  you,  your  mother,  and  every  member  of 
the  family,  on  the  recent  loss  you  have  sustain- 
ed; but  blessed  be  God,  we  are  called  on  to 
mingle  thanksgivings  also.  When  we  view  this 
world  as  we  ought,  as  merely  a  preparatory 
place  for  an  eternal  abode,  can  we  weep  much 
at  the  thought  of  one  we  have  loved  having 
done  with  all  sin,  and  sorrow,  and  pain,  and  be- 
ing at  God's  right  hand,  where  are  pleasures 
for  evermore  ?  Those  who  have  not  fled  for  re- 
fuge to  the  hope  set  before  them  in  the  gospel, 
may  well  be  alarmed  when  one  of  their  num- 
ber is  taken  away,  uncertain  when  their  turn 
may  come  to  appear  before  Him  as  a  Judge 
whom  they  have  neglected  as  a  Saviour.  But 
those  who  are  building  on  the  foundation  which 
has  proved  firm  to  the  very  end  with  those 
whose  faith  and  hope  were  similarly  placed, 
know  that  they  will  soon  rejoice  forever  with 
and  on  account  of  those,  whose  company  they 
now  miss  and  mourn. 

"  I  remember  when  my  only  and  beloved  sister 
left  this  vale  of  tears,  I  used  to  feel  in  a  way  I 
cannot  describe,  overpowered  when  I  thought  or 
heard  of  her  as  connected  with  worldly  things, 
but  when  I  considered  where  she  was,  what  she 
was  delivered  from,  and  what  enjoying,  I  could 
almost  believe  I  heard  the  melody  of  heaven. 


MRS.    EWING.  151 

"  My  dear  friend,  we  know  God  is  love  ;  that 
be  is  faithful  to  his  promise,  and  will  make  all 
things  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love 
him ;  let  us  trust  him,  and  we  shall  see  he  will 
bring  some  sweet  out  of  this  bitter.  Let  us  pray 
and  not  faint.  Surely  it  was  not  in  vain  your 
dear  sister  had  so  triumphant  an  end.  May  He 
who  can,  give  us  cause  to  sing  of  mercy  to  some 
precious  soul  awakened  by  it.     I  shall  be  anxious 

to  hear  dear  Mrs.  R y  has  not  suffered  in  her 

health.  When  any  of  you  write  to  her,  will  you 
kindly  remember  us  with  the  most  affectionate 
sympathy.  As  we  shall  be  anxious  to  hear  of 
you  all,  I  am  sure  Mr.  O— e  will  indulge  us  with 
a  few  lines.  I  hope  you  will  not  make  an  effort 
to  write  me  ;  when  you  can  easily  do  so,  it  will 
give  me  much  pleasure.  Mr.  Ewing  and  Miss 
Cathcart  join  in  every  kind  wish  to  you  and  your 

mother,  and  I  am,  my  dear  Miss  Y g, 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"B.  Ewing." 

"My  dear  Miss  Y g, 

"  We  were  truly  grieved  to  learn  by  Mr.  O— 's 
letter,  that  it  had  pleased  our  Heavenly  Father 
again  to  visit  your  family  with  an  afflictive 
stroke.  We  sincerely  sympathize  with  you — to 
tell  you  so,  cannot  alleviate  your  distress  ; — but 
blessed  be  God  we  know  of  One,  who,  in  all  the 
affliction  of  his  people,  is  afflicted,  and  who  has 
the  power  to  support  under,  and  deliver  out  of, 


152  MEMOIR    OF 

and  sanctify  by  every  such  dispensation  of  his 
Holy  Providence.     Faint  not,  therefore,  my  dear 
friend,  under  this  and  other  painful  visitations, 
but  believe  all  that  God  has  spoken  of  the  mean- 
ing and  end  of  all  his  dealings,  and  you  will 
infallibly  experience  his  faithfulness.     Tribula- 
tion worketh  patience,  patience  experience,  and 
experience  hope,  and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed, 
but  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, shall  keep  your  heart  and  mind  by 
Christ  Jesus.     If  we  are  called  on  even  when 
eating  and  drinking,  and  in  every  ordinary  thing, 
to  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God— much  more  are 
we  to  show  to  the  world  that  we  are  not  only 
actuated,    but    supported    by  the  consolations 
and  hopes  of  the  Gospel,  and  so  lead  others  by 
our  sorrows  to  glorify  God  as  a  very  present  help 
in  trouble.     If  Christians  yield  to  sorrow,  so  as 
to  hurt  their  health  and  mar  their  usefulness,  as 
the  light  of  the  world  and  salt  of  the  earth, 
Satan  gets  an  advantage.     On  the  other  hand,  if 
'  all  these  trials  only  quicken  their  zeal  and  make 
them  more  dead  to  the  world  and  alive  to  God, 
He  is  glorified  by  the  produce  of  that  fruit  which 
it  was  his  purpose  they  should  yield.     You  know 
all  this  better  than  I  do,  but  we  need  each  other's 
help  to  bring  these  things  to  remembrance  when 
our  minds  are  perplexed  with  grief;  therefore 
you  will  receive  it  as  it  is  meant,  an  expression 
of  affectionate  concern.     Mr.  Ewing  and  Miss 
Cathcart  join  me  in  requesting  you  to  say  to  your 


MRS.    EWING.  153 

mother  how  deeply  we  feel  for  her,  and  beg  our 

best  respects.     They  beg  their  love  to  you,  and 

believe  me,  my  dear  Miss  Y g, 

"  Yours  very  sincerely, 

"B.  Ewing." 
Glasgow,  22d  Oct,  1823." 

Mrs.  E wing's  character  and  success,  as  a  step- 
mother, having  formed  so  interesting  a  part  of 
the  Memoir*  the  writer  of  it  hopes  he  will  be 
pardoned  by  the  public,  and  by  his  own  child, 
for  introducing,  without  her  knowledge,  the  let- 
ter, which,  in  poor  health  and  much  agitation, 
she  hurriedly  wrote  him,  while  her  husband  was 
setting  off,  on  receiving  the  melancholy  intelli- 
gence, to  tender  in  person  his  affectionate  ser- 
vices. 

"  Durham,  Sept.  16th,  1828. 
*'  My  beloved  Father, 

"  I  have  taken  up  my  pen,  but  I  hardly  know 
how  to  address  you.  I  and  mine  have  lost  our 
best  earthly  friend  ;  but  all  personal  considera- 
tions are  for  the  present  nearly  swallowed  up  in 
the  contemplation  of  your  loss.  What  that  is, 
we  can  partly  imagine,  but  you  alone  feel  it  in 
all  its  bitterness.  This  is  a  renewal  of  former 
griefs,  with  many  aggravating  circumstances. 
But  I  am  forcibly  reminded  that  she  whose  death 


See  page  50. 
O 


154  MEMOIR    OF 

we  are  deploring,  was  ever  disposed  to  be  grate- 
ful for  the  mercies  that  had  been  enjoyed,  rather 
than  to  indulge  in  regret  when  they  were  with- 
drawn ;  and  I  am  sure  it  is  more  congenial  with 
what   were   her  views   and   feelings,  that    we 
should  dwell  upon  the  strong  consolations  of  the 
gospel,  than  upon  the  gloomy  and  painful  cir- 
cumstances in  which  this  event  has  placed  us. 
O  what  a  mercy  is  it  now,  that  we  have  everlast- 
ing consolation  and  good  hope  through  '  grace  ;' 
a  good  part   which  cannot  be  taken  away.     I 
doubt   not   you   are  enabled   to    say   with  Job. 
'  though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him ;'  and 
with  one  greater  than  Job,  'the  cup  which  my  Fa- 
ther giveth  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it  ?"    Your  flesh 
and  your  heart  cannot  but  fail  under  this  over- 
whelming stroke ;  but  the  Lord  is  the  strength 
of  your  heart  and  your  portion  forever.     He  has 
never   left  nor  forsaken  you  yet,  and  most  as- 
suredly he  will  not  now. 

"Though  there  is  a  difference  in  the  dates  of 
the  letters,  of  two  days,  we  received  both  this 
morning.  The  slight  idea  which  they  give  of 
the  painful  circumstances  is  very  dreadful,  but 
what  must  they  have  been  to  you  who  have  wit- 
nessed and  participated  in  them  !  The  sudden- 
ness of  the  accident,  the  violence  of  it,  and  the 
acuteness  of  the  suffering  ;  the  absence  from 
home,  are  all  to  our  view  circumstances  of  pain- 
ful regret.  Yet  precious  in  the  sight  of  the 
Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints  ;  and  even  amidst 


MRS.   EWING.  155 

the  fury  of  implacable  enemies,  Stephen  is  said 
to  have  fallen  asleep.  It  is  certainly  a  mercy 
that  death  was  not  instantaneous ;  and  though 
much  suffering  must  have  been  endured,  the 
latter  end  seems  to  have  been  peace.  Prayer 
for  those  whom  she  loved  was  a  favourite  and 
frequent  employment ;  and  it  seems  it  was  the 
last.  It  was  ever  a  source  of  great  comfort  to 
me,  to  know  that  we  enjoyed  her  constant  re- 
membrance at  the  throne  of  grace  ;  and  I  trust 
we  shall  yet  receive  many  blessings  in  conse- 
quence of  it.  But  when  I  come  to  think  of  my 
own  obligations,  and  of  the  loss  I  have  sustain- 
ed, I  must  forbear  at  present  to  enlarge,  for  I 
am  not  yet  sufficiently  composed  almost  to  real- 
ize what  has  taken  place.  I  trust  the  Lord  will 
preserve  my  dear  husband  to  reach  you  in  safe- 
ty, and  that  he  may  be  honoured  in  some  meas- 
ure to  minister  to  your  comfort.  We  cannot  see 
it  our  duty  to  leave  home  both  at  once ;  and  in 
the  first  instance,  his  going  seems  more  likely  to 
be  of  use  than  mine.  If  we  are  continued  in 
health,  I  will  most  gladly  come  and  see  you  a 
little  after  this.  But  what  an  altered  prospect 
presents  itself  there!  I  shall  feel  anxious  to 
hear  how  you  are,  and  the  other  sufferers  ;  and 
many  particulars  which  my  husband  will  be  able 

to  communicate.     Mrs.  O y  and  Miss  L n 

both  deeply  feel  the  unexpected  intelligence,  and 
unite  in  deploring  the  loss  sustained  by  the  cause 
of  Christ.     I  know  of  no  individual  whose  death 


156  MRS.    EWING. 

will  be  more  generally  deplored  throughout  the 
churches  in  Scotland,  or  with  greater  reason. 
But  the  Lord  liveth  and  reigneth  ;  let  the  earth 
rejoice.  It  is  certainly  a  matter  of  thankfulness 
that  your  health  was  re-established  before  this. 
I  trust  your  injury  may  not  be  of  serious  conse- 
quence. 

"  I  was  providentially  led  to  return  home  from 
Sunderland  last  night.  I  am  obliged  to  con- 
clude. With  earnest  prayers  that  you  may  be 
supported,  and  that  this  event  may  be  sanctified 
to  us  all, 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  father, 

"  Your  affectionate  daughter, 

"Janet  Jamieson  Matheson." 

«  H ,  16th  September,  1828. 

"  My  very  dear  Friend, 

"  Having  read  in  the  Edinburgh  Courant,  the 
distressing  account  of  what  befell  you  and  party, 
I  was  balancing  whether  to  address  you  at  La- 
nark or  Glasgow,  to  learn  particulars,  and  to 
hear  as  I  hoped  favourable  accounts,  when  your 
notice  of  yesterday  announcing  the  melancholy 
event  that  has  taken  place,  reached  and  has  very 
sensibly  affected  me.  How  true  it  is  that  in  the 
midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,  that  when  perhaps 
on  an  excursion  in  pursuit  of  health  we  meet  our 
death.  How  little  we  know  where  safety  is  or 
danger  lurks. — But  it  is  comfortable  to  know 
that  the  time  when,  the  place  where,  and  the 


MRS.    EWING.  157 

manner  how,  each  of  us  is  to  die,  is  known  to 
Him,  to  whom  belong  the  issues  of  death, — and 
that  it  shall  be  well  with  the  righteous  in  what- 
ever circumstances  or  by  whatever  means  their 
death  is  occasioned. 

"  You,  my  dear  friend,  must  sorrow,— but  you 
have  not  to  sorrow  as  those  who  have  no  hope. 
—I  need  only  express  my  deep  sympathy   with 
you,  and  offer  up  my  earnest  prayer,  that  the 
Father  of  mercies  and  God  of  all  grace  and  con- 
solation may  comfort  your  heart.     The  sources 
of  true  spiritual  comfort  in  the  most  trying  situ- 
ations are  well  known  to  you.      May  the  Lord 
enable  you  to  derive  consolation  and  support 
from  them. — And  if  he  give  quietness,  who  then, 
or  what  can  occasion  trouble  ? — This  event,  so 
painful  to  flesh  and  blood,  has  not  happened  by 
accident,  but  with  the  perfect  knowledge,  per- 
mission, and  will  of  Him  who  has  the  key  of 
death  in  his  hand,  in  whose  wisdom   and  good- 
ness we  have  every  reason  to  confide,  and  to 
rest  assured  that  this  is  just  as  it  should  be. — 
Are  we  wiser  than  he  ?     Were  all  circumstances 
known  and  considered,  we  should  see  that  it  is 
better  thus  than  otherwise.     O  let  us  be  still  and 
know  that  it  is  God  with  whom  we  have  to  do, 
and  that  it  becomes  not  us  to  oppose  our  wills  to 
Ms  will,  or  to  wish  even  to  have  things  different 
from  what  they   are. — "  Should  it  be  according 
to  thy  mind?"     It  is  comfortable  to  reflect  that 
God  does  not  willingly  afflict  nor  grieve  the 


158  MEMOIR    OF 

children  of  men, — that  when  he  chastens  his 
people,  it  is  because  there  is  need  for  it,  and  to 
do  them  good  by  the  discipline.  Let  us  search 
ourselves,— and  seek  that  the  salutary  design  of 
such  an  afflicting  dispensation  may  be  realized 
by  US) — that  we  may  be  quickened  in  our  dili- 
gence to  be  found  of  God  in  peace,  and  may 
be  habitually  watching  and  waiting  for  the  com- 
ing of  the  Lord. 

"  I  shall  be  most  anxious  till  I  hear  of  you. 
We  are  both  soon  to  leave  this  world — sooner 
perhaps  than  we  are  aware.  Oh  that  we  may 
be  ready  and  becoming  more  meet  for  the  inher- 
itance of  the  saints  in  light.  I  hope  I  am  wean- 
ing from  the  world,  and  would  contemplate  my 
departure  to  the  world  of  spirits  daily. 
"  I  remain,  my  dear  friend, 

"Your  affectionate  and  sympathizing  brother, 
«  R L ." 

"  Cheltenham,  September  20th,  1828. 
"  My  dear  and  much  valued  friend, 

"It  is  with  unutterable  anxiety  and  sor- 
row, I  have  just  read  in  one  of  the  papers,  an 
account  of  the  afflictive  dispensation  of  Provi- 
dence, with  which  you  have  been  visited! — I 
read  the  melancholy  record  again  and  again, 
hoping  that  there  might  be  possibly  some  mis- 
take ;  but  another  paper  confirmed  the  same  ac- 
count, and  announced  the  fatal  result,  in  refer- 
ence to  your  dear  and  beloved  partner! — Yet 


MRS.  EWIXG,  159 

why  should  I  call  it  ' fatal  result  ?' — Alas !  our 
feelings  and  our  weaknesses  compel  us  to  use 
such  terms  ;  while  a  realizing  apprehension  of 
the  divine  testimony  and  a  perception  of  things 
as  they  are,  would  lead  us  to  look  at  that  result 
as  'an  entrance,  ministered  abundantly?  into  our 
Father's  kingdom  !  Yet  how,  my  friend,  that 
such  should  have  been  the  appointed  manner 
of  that  entrance — that  He  who  hath  '  the  keys 
of  the  unseen  world  and  of  death,'  should  thus 
have  prepared  the  way  for  an  admission  to  his 
immediate  presence  ! 

*  Short,  sudden  was  the  gale, 

That  wafted  her  to  rest — 

A  while  the  waves  impetuous  rushed 

A  moment's  tossing  and  'twas  hushed  !" — 

"Oh  !  my  dear  friend — I  cannot  tell  you  how 
solicitous  I  am  to  know  how  you  are,  under  this 
overwhelming  trial.  I  am  well  assured  that  you 
have  the  sympathy  and  prayers  of  all  who 
know  and  love  you — and  the  circle  is  a  wide 
and  extended  one,  in  which  your  sorrows 
will  be  remembered  at  the  throne  of  our  heaven- 
ly Father.  What  is  infinitely  better — our  best 
Friend  does  not,  and  cannot,  forget  you — He 
never  breaks  the  bruised  reed — He  heals  the 
broken  hearted,  and  comforts  them  that  mourn. 
I  trust,  amidst  all  that  sense  may  feel,  and  rea- 
son may  suggest,  that  God  is  enabling  you  to  say 
— '  It  is  well' — '  he  hath  done  it,'  who  is  too  wise 


1G0  MEMOIR    OF 

to  err,  and  too  gracious  to  lay  upon  his  suffering 
people  more  than  he  will  enable  them  to  bear  ! — 
Often,  very  often,  have  I  regretted  that  our 
great  distance  from  each  other  has  rendered 
us  so  much  unacquainted  with  our  respective 
circumstances  and  anxieties,  and  that  the  very 
urgent  pressure  of  duty,  and  the  frequent  ex- 
perience of  personal  and  relative  trial,  should 
have  made  sad  chasms  in  our  intercourse.  I 
the  more  blame  myself  for  this,  because  no  one 
has  more  tender  and  grateful  and  affectionate 
remembrances  of  the  days  and  years  that  are 
gone  by.  Never  can  I  forget  the  maternal  so- 
licitude, the  uniform  kindness  and  sympathy  of 
your  beloved,  but  now  departed  friend.  Her 
strength  of  mind,  her  humility  of  spirit,  her  emi- 
nent disinterestedness,  and  her  elevated  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  our  Lord,  were  indeed 
marked  and  highly  characteristic  features.  I 
have  never  thought  of  her  and  of  her  now 
mourning  partner,  without  heartfelt  gratitude  to 
God  for  being  ever  acquainted  with  her  and  you  ; 
and  for  all  the  precious  recollections  I  am  privi- 
leged to  cherish  !— If  you  have  ever  thought  me 
forgetful  or  unmindful,  do,  my  friend,  banish  the 
suspicion,  and  accept  the  assurances  of  my  most 
sincere  and  affectionate  sympathy.  You  well 
know  where  to  find  an  all-sufficient  solace,  and 
I  trust  '  He  who  comforteth  them  that  are  cast 
down,'  is  not  withholding  the  ample  experience 
of  his  '  everlasting  consolation.' 


MRS.  EWING.  161 

"  Oh !  the  unutterable  value  of  that  consola- 
tion, and  the  preciousness  of  that  gospel,  which 
inspires  and  supports  and  preserves  it.  I  can 
only  pray  that  the  mind  of  my  venerated,  and 
beloved  friend,  may  largely  participate  in  its  en- 
joyment, and  that  he  who  once  trod  the  vale  of 
suffering  and  wo,  may  give  you  the  richest  ex- 
perience of  his  presence  and  love !  He  has  re- 
moved your  dearest  earthly  comforter,  that  he 
may  endear  to  you,  more  than  ever,  his  own 
love  and  the  resources  of  his  own  unchanging 
covenant ! — By  and  by  he  will  explain  the  mys- 
tery, and  enable  us  all  to  say — '  It  was  the  right 
way  !' 

"My  kind  remembrances  to  Miss  Cathcart 
and  all  your  esteemed  circle. 

"  And  be  assured  that  I  am, 
"  My  dear  friend, 
"  Yours  very  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

"J.  Fletcher." 

"  Hackney,  September  22d,  1828. 
"Weep  with  those  that  weep,  and  rejoice  with 
those  that  rejoice. — I  do  sympathize  with  you, 
my  beloved  friend,  (and  so  does  my  dear  partner 
too,)  and  in  so  doing  my  heart  is,  as  I  believe 
your  heart  is,  touched  with  the  two  opposite 
feelings  of  grief  and  joy.  It  resembles  the  foun- 
ders of  the  second  temple,  when  some  wept  with 
a  loud  voice,  and  others  shouted  aloud  for  joy. 
Glasgow  and  its  scenery  presents  itself  to  my 


162  MEMOIR    OF 

imagination.  It  seems  but  the  other  day,  that 
when  my  return  from  the  country  to  the  house 
of  Christian  hospitality  and  kindness  was  un- 
usually late  at  night,  she  and  yourself  ran  to  the 
door,  and  welcomed  me  on  my  safe  arrival,  with 
demonstrations  of  interest  in  my  welfare,  as  if 
I  had  been  a  son.  It  seems  but  yesterday,  that 
when  visiting  Glasgow,  labouring  under  indis- 
position, you  took  me  into  your  abode,  and  both 
of  you  conspired  together  to  refresh  my  spirit 
and  make  me  forget  that  I  was  ill.  Ah !  your 
eyes  are  full  of  tears,  and  so  are  mine,  for  neither 
you  nor  I  shall  hear  her  voice  again  on  earth. — 
Not  hear  her  voice  ?  Hark  !  she  reproves  me  ? 
Listen  with  the  ear  of  faith — she  speaks  and 
says — If  you  loved  me,  you  would  rejoice,  for  I 
am  gone  to  dwell  with  my  heavenly  Father. — 
Oh,  we  do  love  the  dear  departed  saint,  and 
therefore  check  our  selfish  sobs  and  sighs. 
What!  would  you  bring  her  out  of  heaven,  and 
down  again  to  earth  ?  No,  O  my  soul,  if  I  had 
the  power,  I  would  not.  I  would  say,  retain  thy 
golden  harp ;  strike  its  chords,  celestial  spirit ;  I 
will  not  check  thine  unutterable  joys,  nor  inter- 
rupt thy  hallelujahs.  Oh,  how  she  was  welcomed 
into  heaven  !  Oh,  how  her  soul  has  been  swal- 
lowed up  with  raptures,  not  to  be  told  on  earth. 
Oh,  when  her  Saviour  looked  and  smiled  ;  when 
he  said  'Come,  thou  blessed  of  my  Father,  enter 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord' — the  delight  which 
thrilled  through  her  soul,  no  words  can  tell.  No, 
thou  shalt  not  come  again  to  earth  ;    no,  not 


MRS.    EWING.  163 

with  our  consent — we  love  thee  too  much  to 
admit  of  that ;  may  we  go  to  thee,  and  enjoy  thy 
company  and  bliss  in  heaven. 

'  Prepare  us,  Lord,  for  thy  right  hand, 
Then  come  the  blissful  day.' 

"  Oh,  what  a  day !     What  a  meeting  that  will 
be. — Let  us  be  looking  for  it  and  hasting  to  it. 
"  With  unfeigned  love  and  sympathy, 

"  Yours,  beloved  friend  and  brother, 

"H.  TOWNLEY." 

"  Dundee,  %Zd  Sept.  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"I  deeply  sympathize  with  you  under  the 
heavy  bereavement  you  have  been  called  to  suf- 
fer. May  the  God  of  all  comfort  be  himself  your 
comforter.  You  are  not  left  to  sorrow  as  those 
who  have  no  hope.  The  Saviour  has  shed  a 
blessed  lig-ht  on  the  darkness  of  the  tomb.  He 
hath  risen  as  the  first-fruits  of  them  that  slept, 
and  the  harvest  in  due  time  shall  be  gathered  in. 
The  proverbial  joy  of  harvest  becomes  thus  as- 
sociated with  the  vale  of  death,  as  we  anticipate 
the  period  when  the  night  of  death  shall  give 
way  to  the  dawn  of  the  resurrection  morn.  In 
the  mean  time  the  spirit  has  fled  to  a  happier  re- 
gion, where  all  is  light  and  joy  and  immortality. 
Your  friend  really  exists  elsewhere,  and  you 
have  the  assurance  that  all  her  valued  worth 
still  lives — more  truly  lives — through  the  com- 


221  MEMOIR    OF 

munications  of  that  grace  which  commenced  it 
here,  and  hath  perfected  it  in  the  sacred  temple 
of  her  God.  The  peace  which  the  gospel  thus 
communicates  to  the  afflicted  mourner  bears  the 
impress  of  that  blessed  region  whither  the  Sa- 
viour hath  gone.  May  you  abundantly  feel  that 
He,  amid  all  the  glories  of  that  hallowed  land,  is 
now  imparting  this  peace  to  you  as  one  whose 
case  has  been  singly  considered ;  whose  feelings 
have  been  most  minutely  weighed,  and  whose 
every  want  has  been  regarded.  He  can  stanch 
the  wounds  of  the  bleeding  heart,  and  satisfy 
the  desires  of  the  immortal  spirit,  when  rising 
above  the  ills  of  life,  its  views  are  directed  to 
Him  in  whose  presence  there  is  fulness  of  joy, 
and  at  whose  right  hand  there  are  pleasures 
for  evermore.  Henceforth  the  thoughts  of 
the  departed  will  be  associated  in  your  mind 
with  the  services  and  the  joys  of  that  hallowed 
abode. 

"  What  a  mercy  that  our  views  are  not  bound- 
ed by  the  narrow  margin  of  the  grave,  but  stretch 
to  the  throne  of  the  high  and  lofty  One  who  in- 
habited! eternity. 

"  I  beg  to  be  remembered  to  Miss  Cathcart.  I 
am  glad  to  learn  that  she  is  fast  recovering,  and 
that  you  are  in  the  same  condition. 

"  Praying  that  you  may  have  abundant  grace 
for  all  your  trials  and  your  labours, 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  Sir,. 
"  Yours  very  sincerely, 
"David  Russel." 


MRS.  EWING.  365 

"Pinkie  Burn,  Musselburgh,  Sept.  24, 1828. 
w  My  dear,  very  dear  Sir, 

"  Now  when  it  is  all  over,  allow  a  feeble 
brother,  and  a  mourning  brother,  to  express  his 
most  affectionate  condolence,  and  tender  sym- 
pathy with  you  on  this  deeply  affecting  occa- 
sion. I  am  persuaded  that  this  is  not  necessary  on 
your  account,  because  you  will  have  many  such 
expressions  ;  and  had  you  none  such,  you  enjoy, 
I  doubt  not,  the  supporting  influence  of  the 
tender  sympathy  of  Him  who  '  died  for  us,  that 
whether  we  wake  or  sleep,  we  should  live  to- 
gether with  him."  But  it  is  necessary  on  my 
own  account;  I  could  not  easily  restrain  my- 
self from  saying  something,  were  it  only,  that 
it  is  impossible  for  me  to  express  my  own  feel- 
ings, and  those  of  my  dear  partner  for  these 
eight  days. 

"  My  loss  is  very  great  indeed.  What  a  valu- 
able correspondent ;  what  a  valuable  fellow-la- 
bourer in  the  good  work  on  which  both  our 
hearts  were  set,  is  taken  away  ;  what  a  hospita- 
ble friend  is  gone  !  I  feel  that  the  loss  of  many 
in  whose  welfare  I  am  interested  is  very  great ; 
there  is  not  another  of  the  same  sex  whose  re- 
moval would  have  been  so  felt  among  our 
churches  and  brother  ministers.  Indeed,  this  is 
saying  but  little.  But  what,  my  dear  Sir,  is 
your  loss!  And  yet,  the  desire  of  your  eyes 
has  been  taken  away  with  a  stroke,  by  Him  who 
gave  himself  for  your  redemption,  and  her  re- 


166  MEMOIR  OF 

demption,  and  who  has  honoured  you  both  here 
above  many,  and  made  you  both  meet  for  the 
everlasting  inheritance.  And  I  am  sure  you 
are  the  first  to  justify  Him  who  guides  all  the 
wheels  of  nature,  and  to  say  that  he  had  a  right 
to  do,  according  to  his  own  mind,  as  to  the  time, 
and  place,  and  manner  of  taking  his  own,  of 
whom  for  a  season  he  had  make  a  gracious  loan 
to  you. 

"Your  loss  is  her  gain.  Our  tears  of  sorrow 
have  of  late  been  mingled  with  tears  of  joy  in 
hearing  a  little  about  the  end  of  dear  Mrs.  Ew- 
ing.  What  we  have  heard,  animating  as  it  is, 
is  not  more  than  what  we  should  have  expect- 
ed, seeing  her  heavenly  Father  kindly  permit- 
ted her  to  retain  possession  of  all  her  powers  of 
mind  and  speech  to  the  last.  We  might  have 
concluded  that  she  would  leave  the  world,  as 
she  passed  through  it :  And  we  ought  to  bless 
God  for  another  proof  of  the  power  of  grace 
and  faith.  We  should  like  to  hear  more  than 
we  have  yet  heard ;  but  this  we  cannot  expect 
for  some  time. 

"  I  feel  anxious  also,  my  dear  Sir,  to  know 
something  more  of  your  state;  I  mean  your 
bodily  health,  and  the  result  of  your  hurt,  for  I 
believe  that  your  mind  is  tranquil.  Do  not, 
however,  suppose  that  I  expect  you  to  write  to 
me  :  but  perhaps  some  friend  might  by  and  by 
command  as  much  time.  Mrs.  W.  and  I  feel 
anxious  also  to  know  about  our  esteemed  friend, 


MRS.   EWING.  167 

Miss  Cathcart,  whom  we  fondly  trust  the  Lord 
kindly  supports  and  deals  tenderly  with. 

"  May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you,  and 
make  his  face  to  shine  upon  you  :  your  sorrow 
will  soon  be  turned  to  joy.  Believe  us  to  be 
your  sympathizing  friends. 

"  My  dear,  very  dear  Sir, 
"  Ever  yours, 
"John  Watson." 

"  Grove  Lane,  Sept  25th,  1828. 
"  My  dear  afflicted  Friend, 

"  I  sit  down  the  first  moment  of  leisure  and 
composure  I  have  enjoyed  since  the  melancholy 
tidings  reached  me,  which  they  did,  the  day  af- 
ter I  wrote  you  last,  to  express — but  that  I  can- 
not adequately  do — what  I  feel  respecting  the 
loss,  which  you  and  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  I 
also,  have  sustained.  God  only  knows  how 
fondly  I  loved  and  venerated  her,  and  how 
much  my  heart  bleeds  for  you.  Her  removal 
engrosses  me  too  much  to  think  even  of  the 
painful  circumstances  under  which  it  took  place, 
and  of  what  has  befallen  you  all.  I  feel  that  I 
have  been  deprived  of  one  whose  love  and  confi- 
dence I  had  long  been  privileged  to  enjoy — who 
often  aided  me  by  her  counsel,  and  comforted  me 
when  depressed  ;  whose  letters,  though  often 
imperfectly  answered,  were  always  deeply  inter- 
esting; and  on  whose  life  I  had  calculated  for 
many  years  to  come  as  a  blessing  to  you  and  to 


168  MEMOIR  OF 

many.  Little  did  I  think  when  I  parted  with 
you  last,  that  we  should  not  meet  again  in  this 
vale  of  tears,  and  that  I  should  be  called  so  soon 
to  condole  with  you  on  the  heaviest  loss  you 
could  sustain.  We  have  been  in  various  ways 
fellow-sufferers,  and  are  likely  to  be  so  to  the 
end  of  our  earthly  pilgrimage.  It  is  well — we 
know  that  it  is  all  well.  Goodness  and  mercy 
have  surely  followed  us  all  the  days  of  our  life  ; 
and  we  shall  dwell  together  with  those  who  are 
not  lost,  but  gone  before,  in  our  Father's  house, 
when  mortality  shall  be  swallowed  up  of  life. 
It  is  delightful  to  think  of  such  a  life,  and  of 
such  a  death  too,  as  that  of  your  beloved  wife. 
What  an  encouragement  to  hold  fast,  and  to 
hold  on,  and  to  be  followers  of  her  who  by  faith 
and  patience  has  gone  to  inherit  the  promises! 
Her  energy  of  mind,  decision  of  character,  and 
combination  of  sound  judgment,  with  unwearied 
activity  and  benevolence,  all  formed  under  the 
influence  of  Christian  principle  and  correct 
feeling,  were  a  rare  exemplification  of  what  the 
grace  of  God  can  do  ;  while  her  course  shows 
what  such  a  combination  can  effect.  But  I  need 
not  speak  of  what  she  was  to  you — God  has 
taken  her  to  himself— and  it  becomes  us  to  bow 
with  silent  submission  before  his  sovereign  au- 
thority. Be  comforted,  my  beloved  brother ;  you 
have  long  enjoyed  an  invaluable  blessing — it  is 
removed  but    for  a  little — laid  up  in  heaven, 


MRS.    EWING.  169 

where  it  will  be  safely  kept  till  that  great  day, 
for  which  all  other  days  were  made. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  the  distress  and  interest 
which  this  event  has  excited  even  in  this  vast 
place.  Every  body  sympathizes  with  you.  I 
informed  our  friends  of  it  last  Lord's  day,  and 
endeavoured  to  make  some  improvement  of  it, 
and  begged  them  to  pray  for  you.  They  were 
all  exceedingly  distressed,  and  have  since  been 
making  many  inquiries  about  you.  I  have  writ- 
ten a  short,  but  I  fear  an  imperfect  notice  for 
the  Magazine  of  next  month,  as  many  I  know 
expect  it.  I  am  now  greatly  anxious  to  hear 
about  you  and  poor  Miss  Cathcart,  who  has  lost 
a  sister  for  a  little  ;  but  it  may  be  to  gain  a  bro- 
ther forever. 

"Adieu,  my  dear  friend!  may  He  who  com- 
forteth  those  that  are  cast  down,  eminently 
bless  and  comfort  you  under  this  sorrow,  that 
you  may  yet  be  enabled  to  comfort  many  others. 

"  With  united  sympathy  for  yourself  and 
Miss  Cathcart,  1  ever  am,  yours  in  the  strictest 
bonds  of  love  and  fellowship, 

"W.  Orme." 

From  the  Congregational  Magazine  for  October 

1828. 

"  It  is  with  feelings   of  no  ordinary  sorrow, 
that  we  record  the  death  of  i this  truly  excel- 
P 


170  MEMOIR    OF 

lent  and  estimable  individual.  Most  of  our  read- 
ers will  have  been  apprised  ere  this  time  of  the 
distressing  circumstances  under  which  it  occurr- 
ed.  

"  Thus  by  a  mysterious  and  painful  dispensa- 
tion, have  the  church  of  Christ,  and  a  large  circle 
of  attached  friends,  been  deprived  of  one  of  the 
brightest  ornaments  of  the  Christian  profession, 
whom  it  lias  been  our  privilege  to  know. — 
Though  placed  in  circumstances  of  affluence 
and  of  great  temptation,  she  was  led  at  an 
early  period  of  life,  to  receive  the  gospel,  and 
by  the  grace  of  God  she  was  enabled  eminently 
to  adore  its  doctrines  for  a  long  course  of  years. 
The  firmness  of  her  mind,  and  the  inflexibility  of 
her  principles,  appeared  in  her  resistance  of  eve- 
ry inducement  to  act  contrary  to  what  she  believ- 
ed to  be  opposed  to  the  word  of  God,  and  in  her 
becoming  a  member  of  a  small  Dissenting  church, 
long  before  her  connexion  with  her  esteemed 
husband.  Connected  as  she  was,  by  birth  and 
outward  circumstances,  with  the  first  families 
in  Scotland,  she  counted  it  her  highest  hon- 
our to  be  known  as  a  Christian,  and  her  great- 
est privilege  to  be  the  wife  of  a  Dissenting 
minister.  Her  energy  of  character  was  ex- 
traordinary, her  activity  unceasing,  her  benev- 
olence unwearied,  and  only  limited  by  her 
own  resources,  or  those  of  her  friends,  which 
were  frequently  placed  at  her  disposal.  Her 
great  object  through  life  was  usefulness,  and  to 


MRS.    EWING.  171 

enjoy  it,  she  was  utterly  regardless  of  the  opinion 
of  the  world,  and  of  all  persona]  labour  or  sacri- 
fice. It  was  impossible  to  be  in  her  society 
without  feeling  that  she  was  a  woman  of  no  or- 
dinary description,  and  not  easy  to  leave  her 
company  without  retaining  some  impression  of 
her  useful  and  edifying  conversation.  Her  cor- 
respondence was  extensive,  especially  among 
the  ministers  of  the  Congregational  churches  in 
Scotland,  to  whose  comfort  she  ministered  both 
in  spiritual  and  temporal  things,  in  the  most  ef- 
ficient and  persevering  manner.  She  was,  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  expression,  '  a  mother  in 
Israel,'  and  a  '  succourer  of  many,'  who  will  long 
deplore  the  loss  they  have  sustained,  while  they 
will  ever  rejoice  in  the  abundant  grace  confer- 
red upon  her.  We  could  say  much  more  were 
we  to  do  justice  to  what  we  know ;  and  we 
should  not  know  when  to  stop,  were  we  to  say 
what  we  feel.  Thus  much  we  have  felt  our- 
selves bound  to  state,  in  the  discharge  of  public 
duty,  and  of  personal  friendship  and  affection." 

Extract  from  a  Sermon,  delivered  by  Mr.  Orme  to 
his  church  at  Camberwell,  on  James  iv.  13.  "Ye 
know  not  what  shall  be  on  the  morrow." 
From  Notes  taken  by  a  Lady. 

"  I  have  offered  these  few  remarks  from  the 
impression  made  on  my  own  mind,  in  reference 
to  the  very  painful  occurrence  to  which  I  ad- 


172  MEMOIR    OF 

verted  this  morning,  and  which  has  lately  be- 
fallen the  family  of  my  much  esteemed  friend, 
Mr.  Evving.  I  know  not  scarcely  in  what  terms 
to  advert  to  this  very  trying  dispensation.  I 
need  scarcely  say  to  you,  that  between  that  in- 
dividual and  myself,  and  his  family,  indeed,  a 
long  and  a  very  intimate  connexion  has  subsist- 
ed ;  his  name  stands  connected  with  my  earliest 
associations  and  feelings  in  the  profession  and 
in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel ;  during  more  than 
twenty  years  we  have  lived  together,  on  terms 
of  the  most  intimate  and  endeared  correspon- 
dence. I  need  scarcely  refresh  your  memories 
by  a  reference  to  the  exquisitely  tender  manner, 
in  which  he  addressed  the  individual  who  is  now 
addressing  you.*  You  may  easily  conceive, 
under  such  circumstances,  what  I  must  have 
felt  when  I  first  heard  the  painful  occurrence 
which  has  filled  not  only  that  family,  but  a  very 
large  circle  of  Christians,  and  even  of  others 
also,  with  a  degree  of  sorrow  that  is  very  rarely 
experienced. 

"  Such,  my  friends,  is  the  amount  of  the  mel- 
ancholy event ;  melancholy  it  is  in  many  re- 
spects, and  yet  in  connexion  with  it  there  are 
considerations  full  of  consolation,  and  which  af- 
ford the  richest  hope  to  the  minds  of  all  who 
were  acquainted  with  the  respected  individual 
who  is  now  no  more. 


*  At  Mr.  Orme's  settlement  at  Camberwell. 


MRS.    EWING.  173 

"Of  Mrs.  Ewing,  I  scarcely  know  how  to  ex- 
press myself  in  the  presence  of  those  who  did 
not  enjoy  her  acquaintance  ;  I  scarcely  know 
such  another  female  in  the  profession  of  the  gos- 
pel of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  She  received  the  gospel  of  Christ  in  circum- 
stances that  made  that  gospel  peculiarly  dear  to 
her,  and  produced  a  powerful  impression  on  her 
mind,  and  a  revolution  of  character  and  conduct 
which  were  apparent  to  all  ;    and  from  the  mo- 
ment of  her  profession  of  the  gospel  up  to  the 
last  period  of  her  life,  she  acted  with    a  degree 
of  decision  that  is   scarcely  equalled.— She  re- 
ceived the  gospel  as  I  have  stated,  she  acted  thus 
under  its  influence,  she  left  the  establishment  of 
the  country,  and  in  all  the  connexions  in  which 
she  lived  and  moved;   in   connexion  with  the 
church  in  our  body  in  Scotland,  she  has  left  a 
testimony  and  an  impression    which  I  am  sure 
cannot  be  forgotten  during  the  life  of  most  of  the 
individuals  who  belong  to  that  body ;    she  was 
unwearied  in  her  activity,  in  her  benevolence, 
in  her  dispensations  of  kindness,  and  she  pos- 
sessed the  esteem  and  confidence  of  hundreds 
who  must  therefore  sorrow  in  no  ordinary  meas- 
ure-' 1  shall  live  and  die  with  the  most  power- 
ful impression  of  her  character  and  kindness." 

"Elgin,  25th  Sept.  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Sir, 

"  The  severe  bereavement  with  which  it  has 

pleased  our  Heavenly  Father  recently  to  visit 


174  MEMOIR    OF 

you,  in  the  removal  to  himself  of  your  excellent 
and  dear  partner  in  life — and  our  generous, 
faithful,  and  lamented  friend,  has  struck  us  all 
in  the  north  like  a  thunderbolt.  It  was  alto- 
gether so  sudden  and  unexpected  to  us,  that  it 
has  stunned  us  like  the  shock  of  an  earthquake. 
The  vibration  is  general  among  our  churches  in 
these  northern  parts.  We  all  feel  as  if  we  had 
lost  in  her  removal,  a  long  tried,  and  firm 
friend — an  affectionate  sister — and  a  mother  of 
our  Israel.  Our  pastors  and  churches  in  this 
quarter  look  upon  the  mournful  event  as  the 
first  public  bereavement  which,  as  a  body,  we 
have  met  with.  In  our  judgment  we  knew 
that  she  was  mortal; — and,  although  she  fre- 
quently had  very  poor  health,  yet  we  had  flat- 
tered ourselves  that  our  heavenly  Father  might, 
for  many  years  to  come,  spare  her  for  a  blessing 
to  you — her  family — the  public  in  your  populous 
city,  and  especially  to  the  churches  of  the  con- 
gregational body  in  Scotland — to  the  poorest  of 
which  she  had  been  so  long  a  most  efficient,  and 
generous  friend.  '  Many  daughters  have  done 
virtuously' — but  when  we  think  of  her  sound 
sense,  her  fervent  piety,  her  decision  of  princi- 
ple, her  activity  and  energy  of  character,  the 
deep  interest  she  took  in  the  comfort  of  the  poor 
pastors  and  the  condition  of  their  families — and 
the  sympathetic  care  for  all  the  churches, — with- 
out exaggeration  or  invidious  comparison,  we 
•cannot  help  thinking—'  that  she  excelled  them 


MRS.   EWING.  175 

all.'  '  She  has  been  a  succourer  of  many,  and  of 
myself  also.'  But  I  almost  forget  that  I  am 
writing  to  her  surviving  husband,  whom  she  has 
left  to  feel  and  deplore  his  loss — and  who  is  a 
thousand  fold  better  qualified  than  I  can  be  to 
appreciate  her  sterling  worth,  and  to  estimate 
his  own  and  our  loss.  But  we  rejoice  to  think 
that  our  loss  has  been  her  unspeakable  and  ever- 
lasting gain.  Neither  you  nor  we,  my  dear  Sir, 
are  called  to  mourn  over  her  ashes  as  those  who 
have  no  hope.  And  while  it  is  a  consideration 
that  may  partly  add  to  the  pungency  of  your 
grief;  yet  in  another  respect  you  have  been 
highly  favoured  of  the  Lord  even  to  have  had 
such  a  partner  in  life— such  a  suitable  help-meet 
for  you  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  our  com- 
mon Lord— and  that  he  spared  her  so  long  with 
you  in  the  wilderness. 

Although,  my  dear  Sir,  she  has  left  you  like  a 
shattered  oak  a  little  longer  to  weather  the 
storms  of  the  wilderness;  yet  I  am  sure  many 
thousand  prayers  will  be  presented  to  the  mercy- 
seat  of  our  heavenly  Father  at  this  crisis,  for 
grace  and  strength  to  yourself— your  family— 
and  flock,  to  sweeten,  soften,  and  sanctify  the 
mournful  event  to  all  your  souls.  A  thousand 
streams  of  Christian  sympathy  will  flow  from  as 
many  hearts,  and  will  run  in  one  strong  current 
along  with  you,  on  this  occasion.  '  Although 
your  own  character  were  less  known,  and  less 
valued  by  us  all  than  it  really  is— your  having 


176  memoir  or 

been  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Eiving  would  make 
you  a  point  of  attraction,  and  the  subject  of  our 
most  sincere  sympathy  and  condolence  at  this 
time.  But  above  all,  you  and  we  have  a  Great 
High  Priest  passed  into  the  heavens,  who  can 
pour  into  your  soul  the  balm  of  mercy,  and  the 
oil  of  gospel  gladness,  so  as  to  render  you  per- 
fectly comforted  and  happy,  under  your  severe, 
and  otherwise  irreparable  loss.  We  trust  he 
also  will  do  it — you  know  him  who  was  dead  and 
is  alive — and  who  lives  for  evermore — and  who 
can  sustain  under  the  most  weighty  trials  and 
bereavements.  For  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself, 
and  no  man  dieth  to  himself.  But  whether  we 
live,  we  live  unto  the  Lord— or  whether  we  die, 
we  die  unto  the  Lord— Living  or  dying  we 
are  the  Lord's.  For  to  this  end  Jesus  both  died, 
and  rose,  and  revived,  that  he  might  be  Lord 
both  of  the  dead  and  the  living.  'Death-divid- 
ed friends  will  soon  meet  to  part  no  more.'  May 
it  be  our  great  concern,  to  occupy  till  the  Lord 
come — to  be  faithful  unto  death— and  in  due  time 
we  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life. 

"I  have  very  lately  had  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Dewar,  and  another  from  Mr.  Martin,  in  which 
they  express  their  deep  regret  at  the  decease  of 
Mrs.  Ewing— and  their  sincere  sympathy  with 
you,  your  family,  friends,  and  flock,  under  this 
breach.  Messrs.  Martin  and  Munro  are  this 
week  out  on  a  preaching  excursion  on  the  banks 
of  the  Dee  and  Don.      Mr.  Martin,  in  his  letter 


MRS.    EWING.  177 

to  me,  wishes  me  very  much  to  write  to  you 

and  to  express  our  united  affection,  and  tender 
sympathy  for  you  and  the  family,  on  this  occa- 
sion. Indeed  there  can  only  be  one  common 
feeling,  among  all  our  pastors  and  churches  in 
the  north,  in  contemplating  the  removal  of  our 
dear  departed  friend— and  in  sympathizing  with 
theVhief  mourner.  Her  memorial  will  long  be 
embalmed  in  all  our  memories.  Associations 
and  recollections  of  Mrs.  Ewing,  somehow  or 
other,  have  for  many  years  been  blended  with 
all  our  itinerating  exertions  in  the  north.  No 
person  ever  did,  or  ever  could  take  a  deeper  in- 
terest in  these  operations,  than  she  did  ;  and  a 
vivid  recollection  of  those  things,  if  we  are  spar- 
ed to  live  and  labour  in  the  Lord's  vineyard, 
must  still  mingle  with  our  country  excursions  for 
many  years  to  come.  It  would  be  gratifying 
for  us  to  hear  either  from  you — or  of  you  by 

some  of  the  friends,  at  the  earliest  convenience 

and  how  each  who  were  confined  by  the  acci- 
dent are  recovering.  Mrs.  M'Neil  unites  with 
me  in  kindest  regards,  and  affectionate  sympa- 
thy for  you,  Miss  Cathcart,  and  all  the  family. 
May  the  God  of  love  and  peace  be  with  you  all ! 
"  I  am,  my  dear  Sir, 

"Yours  most  cordially, 

"N.  M'Neil." 
Q 


178  MEMOIR    OF 

"  Edinburgh,  Sept.  28th,  1828. 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  God  be  with  you,  my  friend,  in  this  hour 

of  darkness,  and  you  will  find  light  in  the  Lord. 
God  be  with  you,  my  brother,  in  this  awful  soli- 
tude and  grief;  and  although  the  earth  quakes, 
and  the  prison  walls  tremble,  and  the  iron  not 
only  fetters  the  members,  but  enters  your  soul, 
with  Paul  and  Silas,  you  shall  sing.  Yea,  you 
shall  sing  at  midnight,  and  joy  shall  assuredly 
come  in  the  morning.  So,  for  years,  you  have 
told  others,  and  you  shall  yet  tell  it  them  again, 
and  with  this  addition— that  so  yourself  have 
found  it. 

"  It  is  a  very  severe,  but  not  a  new  or  strange 
thing  which  has  happened  to  you,  and  I  know, 
that  as  soon  as  it  took  place,  you  were  prepared 
to  say,  The  Lord  has  done  it,  and  he  is  wise  in 
all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  all  his  works,  and  what 
more  can  be  added  than  that,  The  will  of  the  Lord 
be  done.  '  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.' 
—Think  not  that  I  am  ignorant  of  the  greatness, 
or  insensible  to  the  value  of  your  loss.— To  you 
I  well  know  it  is  beyond  estimation  or  compari- 
son. Well !  but  is  it  on  this  account  less  un- 
worthy to  be  given  to  God !  or  will  it  be  less 
acceptable  to  him  ? 

"  If  I  mistake  not,  three-fourths  of  the  day  of 
life,  according  to  the  reckoning  of  Moses,  has 
nearly  passed  with  you,  and  at  the  close  of  the 


MRS.    EWING.  179 

day  this  gift  will  be  again  restored  to  you — but 
O !    in  what  different  circumstances.      It  was 
taken  away  in  the  midst  of  tears,  and  lamenta- 
tions, and  mourning,  and  wo,  and  miserable  an- 
ticipations, (I  had  almost  said  fie  upon  it,)  but  it 
will   be   given    back   with   gladness,   and   with 
mirth,  and  with  triumph,  and  with  joy,    and  in 
assured  hope  of  life  immortal. — O!    how  unlike 
is  God's  mode  of  giving,  to  that  of  man. — Com- 
fort yourself,   my  dear   Sir,  with  the  belief  of 
these  truths,  and  your  spirit,  like  Jacob  when 
he  saw  the  waggons,  will  come  again,  and  you 
will  receive  beauty  for  ashes,  and  the  oil  of  fes- 
tivity and  joy,  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness. — In  the 
meantime,  there  is  one  fact   of  which  you  wiJl 
permit  me  to  remind  you.      There  is  a  cup,  you 
know,  a  fearful  cup,  denominated  in  the  Scrip- 
ture, the  cup  of  trembling,  for  reasons  I  need 
not  detail  to  you. — This  awful  cup  was  original- 
ly prepared  for  you,  and  when  it  was  just  about 
to  be  put  into  your  hands,  there   was  a  friend 
that  said,  Give  it  to  me,  and  it  was  given  to  him ; 
and  for  your  sake,  and  from  love  to  you,  capa- 
cious as  it  was,  he  drank  it,  and  left  not  a  drop, 
no  not  one  drop  behind.      But  though  there  is 
not  a  drop  left,  the  scent  remains.     He  has  just 
now,  it  seems,  put  this  cup  into  your  hands,  and 
though  you  cannot  taste,  you  have  found  a  little 
of  the  scent  thereof,  and  it  is  horrible.— And  it' 
the  scent  be  horrible,  think  what  the  full  draught 
must  have  been.     It  will  lead  you  to  fellowship 


180  MEMOIR    OF 

both  in  the  suffering  and  the  love  of  Him  that 
drank  it  for  you — and  if  you  suffer  with  him,  you 
shall  also  reign  with  him.  May  that  be  my  case 
as  well  as  yours ;  and  believe  me  to  be,  with  much 
esteem  and  regard,  my  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  friend  and  servant, 

«  T.  S.  J ." 

"  Hackney,  24f/i  Sept.  1828.    ' 
"  My  dear  Friend, 

"  I  can  now  fully  enter  into  the  feelings,  which 
not  long  ago  you  expressed  in  a  very  kind  and 
sympathizing  letter  to  me.  I  scarcely  kuow  how 
to  venture  to  address  you  under  an  affliction  so 
overwhelming  as  yours.  Yet  I  know  and  I  re- 
joice that  I  am  addressing  one  who  has  long 
been  familiar  with  those  considerations  which 
infinite  wisdom  and  paternal  love  have  deemed 
the  best  solace  for  the  bereaved  heart.  I  do 
not  doubt,  my  dear  friend,  that  you  have  realiz- 
ed the  sustaining  influence  of  that  'strong  con- 
solation' which  the  Divine  Comforter  well  knows 
how  to  infuse  into  the  agonized  spirit.  I  have 
myself  found  scarcely  any  thought  so  soothing 
under  moments  of  anguish,  as  the  persuasion  that 
the  beloved  companion  of  so  many  years  has 
actually  entered  into  the  rest  and  blessedness 
of  a  perfected  and  glorified  spirit  in  the  presence 
of  Jesus  !  To  dwell  on  this  contemplation,  gives 
a  feeling  of  submission  and  repose,  even  when 
the  heart  almost  refuses  to  be  comforted.  And 
then,  rightly  viewed,  how  short  is  the  interval  of 


MRS.     EWING.  181 

separation,  between  the  one  that  is  taken  and 
the  one  that  is  left!  Soon  will  the  re-union  be 
effected ;  and  oh,  under  circumstances  how 
blissful,  how  transporting  !  What  perfection 
of  character,  what  perfection  of  blessedness ; 
what  perpetuity  of  ecstatic  joy  !  What  consum- 
mate wisdom  will  appear  in  dispensations  which 
now  seen  enveloped  in  mysterious  obscurity ! 
And  even  now,  my  dear  Sir,  we  are  learning,  I 
trust,  to  say,  with  filial  confidence  and  submis- 
sion, '  It  is  well !' 

"  It  has  been  only  through  the  public  papers 
that  I  have  received  the  heart-rending  tidings  of 
dear  Mrs.  Ewing  which  have  occasioned  this 
letter.  I  need  not  tell  you,  my  dear  friend,  that 
I  shall  never  cease  to  cherish  many  tender  and 
many  grateful  recollections  associated  with  her 
character  and  her  name.  Greatly  I  honoured 
her,  and  much  I  loved  her.  I  always  regarded 
her  as  a  Christian  elevated,  by  more  than  ordi- 
nary communications  from  the  spirit  of  Christ,  to 
decided  eminence  of  Christian  character.  I 
think  I  know  how  to  estimate,  in  some  degree, 
the  loss  which  not  only  my  beloved  friend,  but 
which  the  church  also  has  sustained.  But  then 
He  who  made  her  what  she  was  and  what  now 
she  is,  remains  the  same  in  Himself- — the  same 
to  us  !  Let  us  trust  him — let  us  submit  to  him — 
let  us  find  in  him  reasons  for  repose. 

"  I  much  long  to  receive  some  account  of  my 
dear  lamented  friend's  last  hours.      Can  you, 


182  MEMOIR    OF 

amidst  your  sorrows,  find  time  to  favour  with  a 
few  lines,  one  who  so  deeply  sympathizes  with 
your  grief?  If  not,  would  Miss  Cathcart  so  far 
show  me  this  kindness,  for  which  I  should  be 
inexpressibly  grateful.  I  beg  most  kind  remem- 
brance to  her,  and  ever  am, 

"  My  very  dear  friend,  most  cordially  yours, 
"H.  F.Burder. 

"  Wrentham,  %9tk  Sept.  1828. 
"  Very  dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  been  exceedingly  grieved  to  hear  of 
the  heavy  and  painful  affliction  with  which  you 
have  recently  been  visited  in  the  loss  of  Mrs. 
Ewing,  in  circumstances  which  must  have  filled 
you  with  unspeakable  distress.  I  have  not  yet 
seen  any  of  the  accounts  contained  in  the  Lon- 
don papers  of  the  awful  accident  which  has 
plunged  you  into  the  deep  waters  of  affliction ; 
but  I  have  heard  from  those  who  have,  the  pain- 
ful particulars  of  the  melancholy  event,  and  I 
hasten  to  assure  you  of  my  tenderest  and  most 
affectionate  sympathy,  and  of  my  fervent  prayers 
that  you  may  be  enabled  in  this  hour  of  trial  to 
cast  your  burden  on  the  Lord,  and  that  you  may 
find  him  a  refuge  and  strength,  a  present  help 
in  trouble. 

"It  is  a  great  consolation  to  know  that,  how- 
ever casual  and  accidental  events  may  appear 
to  us,  they  are  all  under  the  direction  of  Him 
who  is  infinite  in  wisdom  and  goodness,  who 


MRS.    EWING. 


183 


numbers  the  hairs  of  our  heads,  and  without 
whose  knowledge  a  sparrow  does  not  fall  to  the 
ground ;  particularly  as  he  has  assured  us  that 
all  things  shall  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  him,  and  are  the  called  ac- 
cording to  his  purpose.  You  have  also  the  con- 
solation of  reflecting,  that  though  this  event  is 
painful  to  you,  it  has  produced  a  delightful 
change  in  the  condition  of  the  dear  object  of 
your  affections,  and  translated  her  from  a  world 
of  sin  and  sorrow,  to  one  of  purity  and  bliss, 
and  everlasting  joy,  where  there  shall  be  no 
more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  crying,  neither 
shall  there  be  any  more  pain,  the  former  things 
being  passed  away.  You  have  only  occasion  to 
weep  for  yourself — for  those  friends  to  whom 
she  was  dear,  and  from  whom  she  is  now  sepa- 
rated— and  for  those  objects  of  her  Christian 
compassion  whom  she  laboured  to  benefit,  both 
as  to  their  temporal  and  spiritual  interest.  She 
has  joined  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect ; 
and  being  absent  from  the  body,  she  is  now 
present  with  the  Lord — and  the  time  is  not  far 
distant,  when  you  will  again  enjoy  her  society 
in  all  the  perfection  and  rapture  of  heaven. 
Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  com- 
eth  in  the  morning.  The  ransomed  of  the  Lord 
shall  return,  and  come  to  Zion  with  songs  and 
everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads  ;  they  shall  ob- 
tain joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing 
flee  away.      And  in  the  meantime,  our  afflic- 


184  MEMOIR    OF 

tions,  which,  comparatively  speaking,  are  light 
and  but  for  a  moment,  are  working  out  for  us 
a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glo- 
ry. 

"I  am  myself  at  present  but  poorly  in  health, 
having  suffered  last  week  three  paroxysms  of 
intermittent  fever ;  but  I  am,  I  hope,  convales- 
cent, as  I  escaped  the  fit  last  Lord's  day  evening. 
Indeed,  I  have  suffered  more  from  indisposition 
in  the  last  two  years,  than  I  had  done  for  more 
than  thirty  years  before.  But  God  does  all 
things  well;  and  while  he  has  afflicted  me  less 
than  my  iniquities  deserve,  he  has  bestowed  up- 
on me  mercies  both  temporal  and  spiritual, 
which  I  cannot  contemplate  without  admiring 
gratitude.  O  that  my  gratitude  were  more  of  an 
active  principle,  and  impelled  me  to  make  more 
vigorous  exertions  to  promote  the  glory  of  my 
great  Benefactor. 

"In  all  our  afflictions  there  is  a  mixture  of 
mercy — and  I  consider  it  as  a  great  mercy 
that  your  valuable  life  has  been  spared,  and  that, 
as  I  understand,  you  have  not  sustained  any 
material  injury  in  your  own  person.  I  doubt 
not,  that  when  time  and  Christian  principle 
have,  in  some  measure,  abated  the  perturbation 
of  spirit,  occasioned  by  the  awful  shock  which 
you  have  sustained,  you  will  be  able  to  perceive 
and  acknowledge  the  mercies  which  have  been 
mingled  in  the  event,  which  in  one  of  its  results 
has  plunged  you  into  an  abyss  of  grief.     O  that 


MRS.    EWING.  185 

the  Father  of  mercies,  and  God  of  all  comfort 
and  consolation,  may  cheer  you  with  his  sym- 
pathy and  with  the  light  of  his  countenance. 
And  now,  I  commend  you  to  him  and  to  the 
word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you 
up,  and  to  give  you  an  inheritance  among  all 
them  that  are  sanctified.  Mrs.  Ritchie  unites  in 
kindest  and  most  sympathizing  regards  to  you 
and  Miss  Cathcart ;  and  I  am, 

"  Yours  with  great  respect  and  affection, 

"Andrew  Ritchie." 

«  Sheffield,  Sept  30th,  1828. 
"My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  am  desirous  to  express  my  sympathy  with 
you,  in  the  great  affliction  with  which  it  has 
pleased  God  to  visit  you.  I  am  only  acquaint- 
ed with  the  general  fact,  and  such  circumstan- 
ces as  were  detailed  in  the  public  prints.  Pos- 
sibly these  are  not  either  full  or  correct :  But  it 
is  not  to  be  supposed  that  you  have  time  and 
spirits  to  correct  or  enlarge  these  accounts. 
Thus  much  we  know,  in  general,  that  you  have 
been  deprived  of  the  friend  and  companion  of 
many  years,  in  a  way  that  must  add  not  a  little 
to  the  bitterness  of  the  trial. 

"  I  am  not  forgetful  of  the  great  consolation 
you  have  from  the  frame  of  mind,  and  happy 
experience  of  our  late  friend,  in  the  most  try- 
ing of  all  seasons.  And  even  if  this  had  not 
been  so,  and  she  had  been  suddenly  taken  away,. 


186  MEMOIR    OF 

or  otherwise  unable  to  express  herself  comfort- 
ably, yet  we  are  all  fully  assured  of  her  safety, 
from  the  solid  evidence  of  eminent  and  consist- 
ent piety,  that  our  consolation  needed  not  to  be 
less,  than  it  now  is.  Still  there  is  mercy  in  the 
cup  of  sorrow,  as  matters  were  ordered  by  a 
gracious  Providence :  and  you  who  were  near 
all  the  time,  and  knew  all,  must  have  strong  con- 
solation. 

"We  are  not  called  to  think  of  those  that 
sleep  in  Jesus,  as  lost  or  dead,  or  even  as  entire- 
ly severed  from  us.  For  we  are  come  to  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect — we  are  all  one 
family  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  They  prevent 
us,  indeed,  and  thus  have  the  advantage:  but  it 
is  only  for  a  time ;  and  even  now,  they  are  only 
taken  to  a  higher  mansion  of  the  house  of  our 
Father. 

"For  this  they  had  been  prepared  by  the 
teaching  and  discipline  of  God's  house  here  be- 
low :  and  being  prepared  for  it,  they  are  taken 
up  higher  into  the  presence  of  God.  Yet  they 
may  know  much  of  what  concerns  us  here. 
We  know  much  of  what  they  do  there — and  we 
may,  in  our  measure,  do  and  feel  as  they. 

"  But  their  departure  may  be  meant  to  pre- 
pare us  to  follow  them.  Certainly  it  cuts  some 
of  the  cords  that  bind  us  to  the  earth — it  raises 
the  soul  to  the  place  where  they  dwell.  The 
world  is  darker,  and  more  cold  by  their  depar- 
ture— heaven  has  one  additional   attraction    to 


MRS.    EWING.  187 

what  it  had  before.  Thus,  perhaps,  were  they 
removed,  that  we  might  be  made  sooner  and 
more  fully  meet  to  follow. 

"  Meantime,  it  were  wrong  to  weep  and  sor- 
row as  those  who  have  no  hope.  We  should 
comfort  ourselves  with  such  words  as  are  found 
in  the  sacred  word. 

"Nor  should  the  world,  and  life,  and  duty, 
become  so  insipid,  that  our  hands  shall  hang 
down,  and  our  knees  grow  feeble,  and  the  du- 
ties of  life,  with  the  labours  of  the  gospel,  grow 
uninteresting.  This  were  both  sinful  and  un- 
wise. Rather  let  us  work  while  it  is  day,  since 
the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work.  My 
hope  and  prayer  is,  that  God  will  give  such  sup- 
port, that  neither  your  health  nor  spirits  shall 
fail,  nor  your  labours  or  studies  be  long  inter- 
rupted. They  will,  I  am  sure,  assume  a  holier 
character,  and  a  more  elevated  tone  ;  and  thus 
many  may  profit  by  your  trials.  Your  loss  may 
thus  be  gain  to  many,  and  one  who  served  the 
Lord  in  life,  may  more  eminently  serve  him  at 
her  departure.  With  best  wishes,  piayers,  and 
sympathy,  in  which  I  am  joined  by  Mrs.  S. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  Sir, 
"  Yours  ever  truly, 

"Thomas  Smith." 

"Huntly,2d  Oct.  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Sir, 

"You  will  excuse  me  for  intruding  upon  you 
merely  to  express  my  deepest  sympathy.    Wheia 


188  memoir  or 

the  tidings  of  dear  Mrs.  Ewing's  death  reached 
this,  I  was  confined  to  bed  by  a  serious  attack. 
They  concealed  the  news  from  me  until  the  vio- 
lence of  the  disease  was  broken.  For  some 
days  after  I  durst  never  think  of  her,  but  as  en- 
joying consummate  bliss;  nor  of  you,  but  as 
supported  by  the  arm  of  your  heavenly  Master. 
My  after  reflections  I  dare  not,  even  now,  give 
vent  to.  But  I  determined,  the  first  day  I  was  able 
to  sit  up  to  write,  to  inform  you  that  there  are 
here  who  both  feel  much,  and  pray  for  you  under 
your  present  deep  distress.  I  cannot  ask  you  to 
write ;  while  I  feel  most  anxious  to  hear  how 
you  are,  and  also  of  Miss  Cathcart.  Mrs.  Ew- 
ing  was  my  only  Glasgow  correspondent ;  and 
the  high  enjoyment  I  had  from  her  pleasing,  in- 
structive, and  affectionate  letters,  shall  be  cher- 
ished while  I  live.  Often  they  refreshed  me 
when  ready  to  give  way  to  thoughts  of  a  de- 
sponding nature but  she  is  in    the  land 

where  the  sun  goes  no  more  down.  I  cannot 
enlarge.  May  the  Father  of  mercies  make  good 
to  you  his  great  promise,  '  I  will  never  leave 
thee ! ' 

"  Mrs.  Hill  joins  me  most  cordially  in  every 
expression  of  Christian  regard  and  tender  feel- 
ing; and  I  am, 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  Most  affectionately  yours, 

"John  Hill." 


MRS.    EWING.  189 

"Edinburgh,  Oct.  3,  1828. 
M  My  dear  Sir, 

"  Few  things  could  have  gratified  the  feelings 
of  my  heart,  more  than  the  receipt  of  your 
kind  letter,  and  inestimable  token  of  my  much 
loved  friend's  recollection  of  me.  Inexpressi- 
bly [painful,  yet  pleasant,  are  such  proofs  of  af- 
fection from  one  so  much  lamented,  and  so  much 
beloved. 

"Were  it  not  to  acknowledge  my  gratitude 
for  such  favours,  I  should  not  have  had  courage 
to  intrude  my  feeble  expressions  of  sympathy  on 
your  grief;  for  you  require  not  words  to  inform 
you,  how  deeply  I  share  in  your  bitter  cup 
of  sorrow.  I  am  afraid  I  have  grieved  too 
much,  and  been  selfishly  saying,  such  a  friend 
as  I  have  lost,  the  world  cannot  make  up  to  me ; 
not  sufficiently  considering  the  far  greater  loss 
which  you,  dear  Sir,  have  sustained,  in  the  best 
of  wives,  and  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of 
Christianity.  But  the  work  assigned  her  by  un- 
erring Wisdom  on  earth  was  accomplished;  and 
you  have  been  enabled  to  give  her  up,  and  kiss 
the  rod  with  a  firm  dependance  upon  the  wis- 
dom, power,  and  goodness  of  God,  proving  that 
though  cast  down,  not  destroyed :  cleaving  to 
him  still  as  the  anchor  and  support  of  your  soul ; 
and  he  will  continue  to  be  so,  although  for  the 
present  the  turbulent  billows  are  passing  over 
your  soul. 

"  I  have  dwelt  much  of  late,  as  applicable  to 
her  for  whom  I  must  weep,  on  St.  Paul's  words, 


190  MEMOIR    OF 

Rom.  viii.  18.  'For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings 
of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  com- 
pared with  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed!' 
and  now  has  been  revealed  to  her  rejoicing  sight! 

"  May  the  wish  which  she  has  bequeathed  me, 
and  seconded  by  you,  be  blessed  as  a  fresh  in- 
citement to  urge  my  cold  dull  heart,  to  strive 
more  earnestly  than  ever ;  to  be  ready  when  the 
summons  comes,  to  meet  her  at  the  right  hand 
God,  and  join  in  triumphant  songs  of  hosannah 
to  the  Son  of  David.  It  soothed  my  heart  to 
learn  from  Mr.  Matheson,  that  the  Lord  so  emi- 
nently assisted  you  in  going  through  the  public 
duties  of  last  Lord's  day :  you  were  much  on 
our  heart  at  that  period — we  trusted  He  would 
be  with  you.  He  will  always  be  with  you, — He 
will  never  leave  you,  never,  never  forsake  you, 
till  you  finish  your  course,  and  join  her  who  is 
now  before  the  throne. 

"  We  do  share  in  your  grief,  we  pray  for  your 
consolation,  but  God  alone  can  heal  your  wounds. 
To  Him  I  commit  you,  and  am,  much  esteemed 
and  very  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  sympathizing  and  affectionate, 

«M.  C.  T r." 


"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  It  was  with  the  deepest  sorrow  for  the  loss 
sustained  by  the  poor  congregational  churches 
in  Scotland,  and    with  heartfelt   sympathy  for 


MRS.    EWING.  191 

you,  that  I  heard  of  the  accident  that  happened 
to  you,  Mrs.  Ewing,  and  your  other  friends,  and 
of  the  subsequent  death  of  our  dear  and  valua- 
ble friend  Mrs.  Ewing.  Of  her  it  might  be  tru- 
ly said,  that  she  was  a  mother  in  Israel.  She 
was  a  succourer  of  many,  and  of  me  also  ;  and 
in'  her,  I  may  say,  that  I  and  my  family  have 
lost  our  best  friend  in  the  world ;  for  there  was 
not  another  individual  alive,  that  took  such  an 
interest  in  us,  or  did  so  much  for  us,  as  she  did, 
since  I  had  the  happiness  of  being  introduced 
to  her  acquaintance.  But  oh !  what  a  joyful 
consideration,  that  our  temporal  loss  is  her  eter- 
nal gain ;  and  how  should  it  enhance  the  value 
of  the  gospel  in  our  esteem  ;  when  we  are  as- 
sured that  they,  who  sleep  in  Jesus,  God  will 
bring  with  him.  Hence  we  are  not  left  to  mourn 
as  those  that  have  no  hope,  for  blessed  are  the 
dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord,  for  from  henceforth 
they  shall  rest  from  their  labours,  and  their 
works  shall  follow  them.  In  a  short  time  all  the 
true  followers  of  the  Lamb  shall  meet  in  that 
place  where  there  is  no  more  sin,  curse,  or' 
death,  where  the  pangs  of  separation  shall 
never  be  left,  by  the  kindred  spirits  of  saints — 
and  where  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  have  no 
place — but  where  he,  in  whose  strength  they 
have  fought  and  conquered,  shall  set  them  up  as 
pillars  in  the  temple  of  his  God,  never  more  to 
go  out.  I  rejoice  to  think  that  under  your  heavy 
bereavement,   and  bodily   affliction,   you    have 


192  MEMOIR    OF 

such  consolations  to  support  you ;  and  besides 
this  I  am  sure  that  as  far  as  the  sympathies  and 
prayers  of  brethren  in  Christ  are  a  comfort  to  a 
believer  under  affliction,  this  comfort  is  yours  to 
a  great  extent.  It  is  my  earnest  prayer  that  the 
God  that  did  deliver,  and  doth  deliver,  may  yet 
deliver  you,  and  spare  you  to  be  a  blessing  in  the 
important  sphere  in  which  he  hath  called  you  to 
move.  My  brother  requests  of  me  to  say,  that 
he  feels  deeply  interested  in  your  trial,  and  wish- 
es to  be  remembered  to  you  in  the  most  affec- 
tionate manner.  Accept  of  this  from  us  as  a 
token  of  Christian  sympathy  and  affection. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel, 

Alexr.  Dewar. 

"  Dumfries,  Oct.  M,  1828 . 
"  Dear  and  esteemed  Sir, 

"  It  was  with  much  concern,  that  we  heard  of 
the  recent  afflictive  accident  that  occurred  to 
you  and  other  friends,  and  the  subsequent  re- 
moval of  Mrs.  Ewing,  by  death,  occasioned  by 
that  accident. 

"  As  a  church  we  deem  it  a  duty  we  owe  to 
the  memory,  as  well  as  from  our  deep  respect 
for  you,  to  express  our  sincere  condolence  with 
you,  under  the  present  afflictive,  bereaving  dis- 
pensation with  which  our  heavenly  Father  hath 
seen  meet  to  visit  you.  In  the  removal  of  Mrs. 
Ewing,  the  churches  have  sustained  a  common 
loss,  and  we  believe  it  is  felt  as  such  ;   but  the 


MRS.    EW1NG.  193 

k>ss  they  have  sustained  is  nothing  when  com- 
pared with  yours.  May  the  Father  of  mercies, 
who  has  been  to  you  the  '  God  of  all  comfort,' 
sustain  you,  under  the  power  of  this  darkness, 
and  enable  you  in  every  remembrance  of  your 
affliction,  to  repose  with  unquestioning  submis- 
sion, on  his  wisdom,  faithfulness,  and  unchanging 
love. 

"While  you  must  feel,  and  mourn  the  loss  you 
have  sustained,  it  is  cause  of  thanksgiving  to 
God,  that  you  have  not  reason  to  mourn  as  those 
who  have  no  hope,  but  rather,  as  it  respects  her 
who  is  departed,  to  be  filled  with  joy  '  in  all  your 
tribulation.' 

"  We  will  not,  dear  friend,  attempt  to  comfort 
you  by  a  multiplication  of  words, — we  cannot 
comfort  you,  but  God  can.  He  is  the  'God  of 
all  comfort ;'  and  while  we  mingle  our  tears  and 
sympathies  with  yours,  we  hope  the  prayers  of 
our  hearts  shall  ascend  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
in  your  behalf. 

"  May  your  valuable  life  be  long  spared,  and 
your  increased  usefulness  in  the  service  of  the 
gospel  give  abundant,  and  delightful  proofs,  that 
even  this  dispensation  has  been  ordered  by  the 
God  of  all  peace,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  new 
life  to  ministrations  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son, 
already  lively,  by  causing  a  still  richer  unction 
of  divine  influence  to  rest  upon  them,  and  ren- 
dering them  to  thousands  the  savour  of  life  un- 
to life. 

R 


194  MEMOIR    OF 

"  In  the  name  of  the  church,  we  sign  ourselves 
yours  affectionately,  in  the  bond  of  the  gospel. 
"  Thomas  Young,  Pastor, 
"Robert  Armstrong,  Deacon" 

«  Linlathen,  4f/i  Oct  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  The  Lord  hath  done  it,  he  who  hath  loved  us 
and  given  his  Son  for  us,  hath  done  it.  I  would 
bless  God  with  you,  for  the  manifestation  which 
hft  has  given  to  us  of  the  power  of  his  grace, 
both  in  the  life,  and  in  the  death  of  her  who  has 
been  taken  hence.  He  is  faithful  to  perform 
above  and  beyond  all  our  narrow  conceptions  of 
his  promises  of  loving  care,  and  consolation,  and 
support  to  his  people,  in  their  hour  of  need.  I 
have  heard  how  she  was  supported,  and  enabled 
to  give  glory  to  God,  as  she  entered  the  dark 
valley.  The  Lord  grant  unto  us  that  we  may  be 
followers  of  those  who  have  been  followers  of 
Jesus.  And  when  we  lament  the  termination  of 
their  usefulness  upon  earth,  and  the  breaking 
off  for  a  season  of  the  interchange  of  an  affec- 
tion sanctified  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  and  endear- 
ed by  many  remembrances,— let  us  think  of  Him 
who  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  and  in  him 
find  everlasting  consolation.  May  the  Lord  sus- 
tain you  under  this  very  heavy  blow,  and  give 
you  a  double  portion  of  his  Spirit,  that  you  may 
be  enabled  to  comfort  others  with  that  comfort 
wherewith  your  own  soul  has  been  comforted  of 
the  Lord.     I  feel  now  very  painfully,  my  not 


MRS.    EWING. 


195 


having  seen  her  the  last  time  that  I  was  in  the 
west  country.  I  called  two  or  three  times  at 
Carlton-place,  in  the  hope  that  you  might  per- 
chance be  in  town  ;  and  I  once  set  off  to  visit 
you  in  your  country  residence  ;  but  when  I  ar- 
rived in  Glasgow,  I  found  myself  so  oppressed 
by  the  heat,  that  I  made  up  my  mind  to  defer  it, 
alas!  to  another  occasion,  and  returned  home, — 
but  we  shall  meet,  I  trust,  where  there  is  no 
parting. 

"  I  am  sure  that  the  deep  sympathy  of  our  af- 
fectionate friend,  Mr.  S g,  must  have  been  a 

great  consolation  to  you.  And,  indeed,  though 
you  are  the  chief  mourner  here,  yet  you  have 
many  true  mourners  in  your  train.  I  am  not 
sure  that  I  know  a  single  individual  whose  loss 
could  be  so  much  felt.  The  combination  of  so 
much  kindness,  and  judgment,  and  activity  with 
piety,  is  rare  in  the  world,  and  cannot  be  taken 
from  the  world  without  leaving  a  painful  void  in 
the  feelings  of  many.  Wishing  you  much  spir- 
itual increase, 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  affectionately, 
"T.  Erskine." 

"  London,  31,  Bedford  Square,  East,  6th  Oct.  1828. 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  The  notice  in  the  newspapers  and  magazines 
of  the  heavy  affliction  with  which  you  have  been 
visited,  has  affected  me  much  ;  and  had  it  not 
been  for  the  fear  of  intruding  upon  you  with  a 
letter,  at  a  time  which  must  have  been  of  all 


196 


MEMOIR    OF 


others  to  you  most  sacred,  I  should  have  written 
you  ere  now,  to  assure  you  how  deeply  I  fee) 
for  you,  under  the  loss  you  have  sustained  ;  and 
how  truly  I  sympathize  with  you,  and  your  fel- 
low-sufferers, who  have  survived  the  recent  mel- 
ancholy accident. 

"The  disinterested  and  Christian  kindness 
which  I  experienced  during  my  residence  in 
Glasgow,  from  Mrs.  Ewing,  in  common  with 
yourself,  has  made  an  impression  on  my  mind 
which  will  never  be  effaced  ;  and  the  simple  rec- 
ollection of  it,  at  this  moment,  causes  me  to  feel 
as  if,  by  the  death  of  your  beloved  partner,  I  had 
lost  a  mother.  She  was,  indeed,  a  mother  to 
many  in  Israel,  who  will  deplore,  not  her  loss 
(for  she  has  gained  the  crown  of  glory  that 
awaits  the  faithful,)  but  your  loss  and  their  own. 
Full  well  do  I  know  how  all  the  ministers  of  our 
connexion  in  Scotland,  as  well  as  some  in  Eng- 
land, will  be  affected  at  the  sad  intelligence  al- 
ready communicated  to  them.  It  must  afford  a 
melancholy  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  your 
mind,  under  your  present  distress,  to  reflect  on 
the  estimation  in  which  Mrs.  Ewing  was  held 
by  all  who  knew  her,  and  by  none  more  than  the 
ministers  of  the  word,  who  have  so  often  been  en- 
tertained and  edified  under  your  hospitable  roof. 
The  ardor  of  her  soul,  notwithstanding  the 
weakness  of  her  bodily  frame,  her  inextinguish- 
able zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  her  inflexible  in- 
tegrity, her  uniform  consistency,  her  thirst  for 


MRS.    EWING.  197 

doing  good  in  every  possible  way,  her  benevolent 
regard  for  the  poor  and  distressed,  her  devoted 
attachment  to  Christ,  to  his  cause,  and  to  his 
people,  I  often  witnessed  with  admiration. 
These  traits  of  her  character,  indeed,  were  visi- 
ble to  all,  and  worthy  of  imitation  by  all  who 
knew  her,  or  who  shall  ever  hear  of  her ;  but 
many  other  excellencies  doubtless  you  must 
had  the  opportunity  of  observing  which  others 
had  not. 

"  How  inscrutable  are  the  ways  of  Jehovah  ! 
That  one  so  eminent  for  piety,  and  so  useful  to 
the  church,  should  be  snatched  away  so  sudden- 
ly and  unexpectedly ;  after  enduring,  too,  as  she 
must  have  done,  such  excruciating  pain;  al- 
though it  was  but  a  few  days  only  !  But  the  ex- 
cellent of  the  earth  are  not  exempted  from  the 
calamities  of  life — on  the  contrary,  theirs  is  fre- 
quently a  cup  of  bitterness,  of  which  others 
know  little  or  nothing.  'The  wicked  have  no 
bands  in  their  death.'  Yet  what  a  blessing  is  it, 
that  though  our  bodies  may  be  tormented  with 
racking  pains,  our  souls  at  last  shall  depart  in 
peace.  Such  was  the  case,  I  have  good  reason 
to  believe,  in  regard  to  your  departed  wife.  But 
I  should  like  to  have  a  few  particulars  on  this 
subject,  if  you,  or  any  of  your  friends,  would 
take  the  trouble  to  furnish  me  with  them,  as  I 
have  informed  my  people,  that  I  intend  to  im- 
prove Mrs.  Ewing's  death,  next  Lord's  day 
morning,  in  my  own  place.     My  text  I  believe 


198  MEMOIR    OF 

will  be  Judges  v.  7,  last  clause,  'A  mother  in 
Israel.' 

"I  earnestly  trust  that  you  and  your  dear 
friends,  who  suffered  along  with  you,  are  recov- 
ering, or  already  recovered  from  your  bruises. 
Requesting  the  favour  of  a  few  lines  from  you, 
if  you  are  able  to  write, 

"  Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  very  truly  and  affectionately, 

"Ebenezer  Miller." 

It  was  not  in  the  power  of  the  grateful  receiv- 
er to  comply  with  the  request  of  this  letter. — 
The  sermon  mentioned  has  since  been  publish- 
ed, from  which  an  extract  is  subjoined. 

"While  she  loved  all  who  bore  the  image  of 
Christ,  she  manifested  an  especial  regard  for 
those  whom  she  ever  identified  with  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  on  earth,  viz. 
the  Ministers  of  the  Everlasting  Gospel.  She  re- 
spected and  loved  them  '  for  their  works'  sake,' 
and  'for  the  truth's  sake  which  dwelleth  in 
them.'  The  interest  she  felt  in  them  and  their 
work  was  strong  and  intense,  and  led  her  to 
adopt  every  means  within  her  reach  for  promo- 
ting their  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare.  In 
this  respect  she  much  resembled  some  of  her 
own  sex,  whose  names  are  honourably  recorded 
in  the  Book  of  life  ;  particularly  those  occurring 
in  Romans  xvi.  (e.  g.)  Phoebe,  the  servant  of  the 
church  at  Cenchrea,  of  whom  Paul  says,  '  She 


MRS.    EWING.  199 

hath  been  asuceourer  of  many  and  of  myself  al- 
so f — or  Priscilla,  who,  with  her  husband  Aquila, 
was  '  a  helper'  to  the  apostle  '  in  Christ  Jesus ;' 
or  the  beloved  Persis,  '  who  laboured  much  in 
the  Lord ;'  or  those  who  are  referred  to  by  the 
same  apostle,  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Philippians, 
where  he  says,  '  I  entreat  thee  also,  true  yoke- 
fellow, help  those  women  which  laboured  with 
me  in  the  gospel,  with  Clement  also,  and  with 
other  my  fellow-labourers,  whose  names  are  in 
the  Book  of  life.' 

"It  was  the  summit  of  Mrs.  Ewing's  ambition, 
during  her  pilgrimage  on  earth,  to  be  useful  for 
God.  For  this  she  prayed — for  this  she  labour- 
ed— for  this  she  lived — for  this  she  made  many 
a  personal  sacrifice — and  was  willing  to  endure 
reproaches,  persecution,  and  even  death  itself. 
She  seemed  out  of  her  element  if  she  were  not 
doing  something  that  would  tell  in  the  great 
day  of  account — something  that  would  contri- 
bute to  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  divine  glory.  Among  other  means 
to  promote  this  end,  she  commenced,  and  main- 
tained for  a  long  series  of  years,  a  most  exten- 
sive correspondence  with  the  ministers  of  our 
different  churches  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  Scotland  ;  entertained  them  in  her  house  with 
genuine  Christian  hospitality,  when  they  hap- 
pened to  be  on  a  visit  to  the  city  where  she 
dwelt ;  edified  them  by  her  godly  conversation, 
and  even  inflamed  their  zeal  for  the  good  and 


200  MEMOIR    OF 

glorious  cause  in  which  they  were  engaged. 
Nor  ought  I  to  omit  noticing  the  uniform  kind- 
ness she  displayed  towards  the  students  of 'the 
Glasgow  Theological  Academy,  under  the  care 
of  Mr.  E  wing  and  Dr.  Wardlaw,  in  connexion 
with  which,  as  most  of  you  are  aware,  I  was 
privileged  to  pursue  my  studies  preparatory  to 
my  entering  on  the  work  of  the  Christian  minis- 
try. The  impressions  produced  on  my  mind  by 
the  kind  and  Christian  attentions  which,  in  com- 
mon with  other  of  my  fellow  students,  I  received 
from  that  excellent  woman,  can  never  be  effaced 
by  the  hand  of  time,  nor  by  any,  or  all  of  the 
vicissitudes  of  life.  And  I  cannot  but  rejoice  at 
having  an  opportunity  of  thus  publicly  testifying 
the  regard  which  I  bear  to  the  memory  of  one 
to  whom  I  feel  under  unspeakable  obligations, 
and  who  might  well  be  numbered  among  'the 
excellent  of  the  earth,'  as  she  is  now,  we  doubt 
not,  numbered  with  'the  spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect'  in  heaven.  Her  loss  will  be  long  and 
deeply  felt  by  all  who  knew  her  worth,  by  near- 
ly every  minister  and  church  of  the  Independent 
denomination  in  Scotland  ;  by  many  also  in  Eng- 
land and  other  parts  of  the  world,  and  by  none 
more  than  her  afflicted  surviving  partner,  and 
her  numerous  relatives  and  friends.  The  place 
she  has  vacated  will  not  easily  be  supplied.  But 
while  we  mourn  our  loss,  and  that  of  the  church 
generally,  occasioned  by  the  death  of  a  person 
so  estimable  and  useful,  and  by  the  removal  from 


MRS.  EWING.  201 

this  world  of  a  living  example  so  bright ;  we  ought 
also  to  rejoice  at  her 'unspeakable  gain.'  For 
'blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord:  yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  then- 
labours,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.'  She 
is  now  freed  from  a  body  of  sin  and  death.  Her 
pure  and  happy  spirit  is  already  before  the  throne 
of  the  Great  Eternal.  She  is  reaping  the  reward 
of  her  labours,  beholding  the  glory  of  her  God, 
and  tuning  her  harp  of  gold  to  sing  her  Saviour's 
dying  love,  and  to  celebrate  the  praises  of  his 
rich,  and  free,  and  matchless  grace." 

<•  Edinburgh,  7th  Oct.  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  embrace  the  first  opportunity  in  my  power 
after  arriving  from  the  south,  to  unite  in  those 
expressions  of  deep  and  affectionate  sympathy 
which  your  recent  loss  must  have  called  from 
many  to  whom  the    memory  of  our   departed 
friend  is  dear.     My  dear  Sir,  I  could  not  ven- 
ture to  refer  to  an  event  which  has  come,  so 
near  to  your  happiness  and  your  tenderest  affec- 
tions, were  I  not  assured  that  you  have  abund- 
antly known  the  strong  consolations  of  heaven- 
ly love.      O  yes,  we  sorrow  not  as  others  who 
have  no  hope !     We  have  words  by  which  we 
may  comfort  one  another.     On  these   words  the 
Father  of  mercies — blessed  be  his  name — has 
caused  us  to  hope.     He  has  spoken  them  effect- 
ually to  his  people's  hearts  by  his  own  teaching. 
S 


202  MEMOIR    OF 

And  is  not  this  a  ground  for  overwhelming  grat- 
itude ?  Have  not  the  great  and  attractive  reali- 
ties which  he  has  discovered  been  better  than 
life  to  us  amidst  its  best  enjoyments,  and  have 
they  not  a  preciousness  which  affliction  only  en- 
hances ?  Yea,  in  all  these  tilings  we  are  more 
than  conquerors.  O  what  a  victory  is  this !  a 
victory  over  sin,  over  tribulation,  over  the  world, 
over  evil  in  every  shape,  over  death  itself— a 
victory  through  divine  strength,  through  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb,  through  the  hope  of  the 
glory  that  shall  be  revealed.  Let  us  then  but 
look  at  'things  unseen  and  eternal,'  and  not  at 
'things  seen  and  temporal,1  and  our  afflictions 
shall  appear  to  us,  as  they  aYe,  but  light  afflic- 
tions, which  are  only  for  a  moment. 

"  I  only  suggest  a  few  thoughts,  dear  and  re- 
spected Sir,  into  which  you,  I  know,  have  en- 
tered much  more  deeply.  The  trial  itself  can- 
not be  joyous,  but  grievous,  exceeding  grievous. 
The  stroke  has  been  felt  very  deeply  by  all  to 
whom  your  beloved  relative  was  known :  But 
whose  sorrow  can  be  like  yours,  who  best  knew 
her  value  as  a  Christian  and  a  friend?  Yet  still 
we  must  say,  The  Lord  hath  done  it — and  it  must 
be  well.  It  must  be  well,  it  must  be  best,  for 
you,  for  other  relatives,  for  the  church  of  God 
To  which  she  was  so  eminently  useful.  This 
we  cannot  understand ;  but  still  so  it  must  be. 
The  Lord  reigneth,  and  his  reign  is  one  of  wis- 
dom, love,  and  faithfulness ;  yea,  it  is  the  gov- 


MRS.  EWING.  203 

ernment  of  none  other  than  our  great  High 
Priest,  who  is  in  all  things  touched  with  the  feel- 
ing of  our  infirmities.  O  that  we  may  still  then 
rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  joy  in  the  God  of  our 
salvation ! 

"  I  remember  with  much  gratitude  and  affec- 
tion Mrs.  Ewing's  uniform  kindness  to  myself— 
and  indeed,  who  cannot  say  the  same  who  had 
much  of  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance  ?  In 
England,  the  concern  and  sympathy  expressed 
was  general.  Dr.  Clunie,  at  whose  house  I  staid, 
begged  me  particularly  to  express  his  sincere 
condolence  with  you  in  your  present  affliction. 
I  trust  that  our  gracious  Lord  will  continue  to 
support  your  mind,  and  prolong  through  many 
years  your  health  and  usefulness.  But  to  what 
quarter  shall  we  look  for  a  reparation  of  this 
breach  ?  I  trust  we  shall  learn  at  least  this  les- 
son, to  have  our  eyes  more  towards  the  Lord, 
and  to  seek  more  earnestly  prosperity  from  him. 

"With  best  regards  to  Miss  Cathcart,  who,  I 
am  happy  to  hear,  is  recovering,  I  am,  my  dear 
Sir,  yours,  with  respect  and  affection, 

"Gilbert  Wardlaw." 

"  Leith,  8th  Oct  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  hitherto  delayed  writing  in  the  ex- 
pectation of  being  able  to  go  to  Glasgow  and 
having  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  you,  when  I 
might  have  an  opportunity  of  expressing  my 
feelings  of  sorrow  and  sympathy  with  you,  un- 


204  MEMOIR    OF 

der  the  heavy  calamity  by  which,  in  the  will  of 
our  heavenly  Father,  you  have  been  so  greatly 
afflicted.  We  rejoice  to  hear  from  all  quarters 
that  you  have  been  wonderfully  supported 
throughout;  but  it  does  not  surprise  us.  He  is 
faithful  who  hath  promised.  His  grace  will  en- 
able you  to  act  and  suffer  in  character,  and  you 
will  be  abundantly  comforted  with  the  consola- 
tions which  you  have  long  been  accustomed  to 
address  to  others.  In  affliction  there  is  a  bless- 
ed fellowship  among  believers, — and  a  mysteri- 
ous identity  with  their  great  Head,  which  give  a 
grandeur  to  our  trivial  and  temporary  suffer- 
ings, a  sweetness  and  a  solemnity,  such  as  the 
Scriptures  describe,  when  the  apostle  speaks 
of  glorying  in  tribulation ;  but  the  world  know- 
eth  it  not.  How  it  brings  us  nearer,  and  ren- 
ders us  dearer  to  one  another!  The  feeling  of 
increased  interest  in  you,  which  I  have  within 
these  few  weeks  experienced,  has  no  doubt  been 
felt  by  all  your  Christian  friends  ;  and  the  ex- 
traordinary and  extensive  excitement  which 
has  been  produced,  has,  I  trust,  been  expressed 
in  prayers  on  your  behalf,  and  will  redound  to 
the  glory  of  God.  May  you  be  invigorated  for 
the  service  of  our  Lord  and  Master,  by  the 
painful  bereavement  and  awful  visitation  you 
have  had  !  May  you  be  long  spared  and  great- 
ly strengthened  for  preaching  the  everlasting 
gospel,  having  received  an  additional  and  affect- 
ing charge,  where  all  the  considerations  of  which 


MRS.    EWING.  205 

we  are  sensible  are  requisite  and  should  be  borne 
upon  our  minds.  So  by  fearful  works  in  righte- 
ousness, shall  prayer  be  answered — and  the 
Lord  will  glorify  himself  in  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
our  pilgrimage  through  the  wilderness.  He  will 
supply  also,  all  the  necessities  of  his  saints,  and 
support  his  churches  in  the  land.  When  cre- 
ated streams  are  dried  up,  the  fountain  still 
flows.  And  in  removing  one,  however  eminent 
and  even  singular,  he  will  more  than  fill  her 
place  by  raising  up  many  others  to  minister  in 
Israel. 

"  I  need  not  say  we  all  sympathize  with  you 
and  Miss  Cathcart  most  deeply  ;  my  mother  par- 
ticularly desires  me  to  express  for  her  the  great 
concern  she  has  felt.     ************ 

"  I  beg  you  to  present  my  regards  to  Miss 
Cathcart,  and  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  if  they  are 
with  you  ;  and  remain,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  affec- 
tionately, „  G  D  CuLLEN>» 

"  Alloa,  13th  Oct.  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Sir, 

"  I  write  you  at  present  to  ascertain  how  you 
are  in  your  health  and  spirits.  Having  been 
three  weeks  from  home,  I  have  not  had  an  op- 
portunity of  hearing  any  thing  particular  re- 
specting you,  since  I  had  the  melancholy  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  you  at  Lanark.  I  therefore  feel 
very  anxious  to  know  how  you  have  been  sup- 
ported under  your  severe  bereavement.     The 


206  memoir  or 

loss  you  have  sustained  is  great  and  irreparable ; 
but  I  fondly  hope,  that  that  God  whose  you  are, 
and  whom  you  have  long  and  faithfully  served, 
has  proportioned  his  grace  to  your  heavy  trial. 
O  what  a  sudden  and  sad  blank  has  been  made 
in  society  in  general,  and  in  our  Body,  in  par- 
ticular, by  the  removal  of  dear  Mrs.  Ewing 
to  a  better  world!  Were  it  not  for  the  well 
grounded  hope  that  our  loss  is  her  great  and 
unspeakable  gain,  we  should  be  tempted  to  ar- 
raign the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God.  But 
the  Lord  reigneth,  and  his  grace  enables  us  to 
say,  He  gives  and  he  takes  away,  blessed  be  his 
name.  He  is  possessed  of  infinite  wisdom, 
therefore  he  cannot  err :  He  is  possessed  of 
boundless  goodness,  therefore  he  cannot  be  un- 
kind ;  and  as  he  is  possessed  of  almighty  pow- 
er, he  is  able  to  carry  into  effect  all  the  promises 
of  his  word  for  the  security,  the  direction,  and 
the  comfort  of  his  own  people.  While  we  de- 
plore the  loss  we  have  sustained  in  the  death  of 
one  who  was  a  succourer  of  many,  and  of  my- 
self also,  I  have  been  gratified  by  observing  the 
heartfelt  sympathy  for  you  manifested  in  every 
place.  When  I  mentioned  the  death  of  dear 
Mrs.  Ewing  to  the  church  under  my  care,  the 
whole  body  burst  into  tears.  We  afterwards 
made  you  the  subject  of  our  prayers;  and  I 
fondly  hope  that  the  Father  of  mercies  heard  us 
on  that  occasion,  and  granted  you  the  consola- 
tions of  his  Holy  Spirit. 


MRS.    EWI.NC.  207 

"  On  the  23d  ult.  I  attended  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  association  of  our  ministers  belong- 
ing to  Fifeshire  and  the  neighbouring  counties.. 
The  circumstances  of  Mrs.  Swing's  demise  be- 
ing mentioned,  and  prayer  offered  in  your  be- 
half, the  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
agreed  to : — 

"' Resolved,  That  this  meeting  has  just  heard 
of  the  distressing  accident  that  has  befallen  Mr. 
Ewing  and  his  friends  :  as  also  of  the  loss  sus- 
tained by  Mr.  Ewing,  by  our  churches,  and  the 
world  in  the  death  of  Mrs.  Ewing  : — that  all  the 
members  of  our  association  present,  do  sincere- 
ly feel  for  Mr.  Ewing,  and  pray  that  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  may  uphold  him  in  this  his  day 
of  trial,  and  make  all  grace  to  abound :  and,  that 
Mr.  Hill,  of  Alloa,  be  requested  to  communicate 
to  their  highly  esteemed  friend  Mr.  Ewing,  their 
sense  of  his  heavy  calamity,  and  their  deep  felt 
sympathy  with  him  under  the  same.' 

"I  know  not,  my  very  dear  Sir,  if  there  is  any 
way  by  which  I  can  be  of  use  to  you.  If  there 
is,  you  have  only  to  command  me.  If  preach- 
ing a  day  for  you,  would  be  any  relief  to  you, 
you  have  only  to  say  when  my  services  are  re- 
quired, and  I  will  gladly  attend  to  the  same. 
My  obligations  to  you  are  such  as  never  to  be 
repaid ;  but  I  pray  that  you  may  be  repaid  at 
the  resurrection  of  the  just.  I  do  with  deep  felt 
sorrow  enter  into  your  present  circumstances  of 
distress ;   and  I  desire  to  be  a  follower  of  her 


208 


MEMOIR    OF 


who  now,  through  faith  and  patience,  is  inherit- 
ing the  promises. 

"  I  shall  take  it  kind,  if  you  will  write  me  at 
your  earliest  conveniency,  stating  any  particulars 
relative  to  our  dear  departed  friend ;  as  also  how 
you  are  supported  under  your  heavy  affliction. 

"  Praying  that  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  may 
be  imparted  to  you  in  rich  abundance,  I  am, 

"My  very  dear  Sir,  yours  very  affectionately; 

"J.  Hill."' 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"  We  are  frequently  taught  by  painful  experi- 
ence, that  the  procedure  of  our  heavenly  Father 
is  mysterious :  but  still  it  is  an  unspeakable  mer- 
cy, that  all  the  bitter  ingredients  in  our  cup  are 
mingled  by  a  Father's  hand,  and  that  the}*  are 
all  designed  to  promote  our  spiritual  good.  The 
day  of  trial  has  a  tendency  to  convince  us  that 
the  help  of  a  man  is  vain,  and  that  God  alone 
can  afford  support  and  comfort ;  but  there  is  some- 
thing peculiarly  soothing  in  the  reflection,  that  we 
have  real  friends,  who  tenderly  sympathize  with 
us,  and  who,  were  it  possible,  would  willingly 
bear  a  part  of  our  burdens.  God  has  gracious- 
ly blessed  you  with  a  large  share  in  the  affec- 
tions and  in  the  prayers  of  his  people ;  and  al- 
though they  cannot  make  up  the  loss  which  you 
have  sustained,  yet  we  trust  that  in  answer  to 
their  united  supplications,  the  Lord  will  afford 
you  such  a  measure  of  his  Spirit,  as  will  enable 
you  to  glorify  him,  by  submitting  to   this  painful 


MRS.    EWING.  209 

part  of  his  procedure  with  Christian  patience 
and  resignation,  and  that  he  will  overrule  this 
very  trying  bereavement,  for  promoting  the  spir- 
itual improvement  of  many  who  may  thereby 
be  practically  taught  to  gird  up  the  loins  of  their 
minds,  and  to  walk  as  strangers  and  pilgrims  in 
this  uncertain  world.  Do  not,  dear  Sir,  indulge 
and  feed  grief  by  habitually  dwelling  on  what 
you  may  consider  the  aggravating  circumstan- 
ces connected  with  your  loss.  It  is  wise  to  rise 
above  instruments  and  second  causes  to  that 
God,  without  whose  permission  a  sparrow  can- 
not fall  to  the  ground.  The  cloud  has  a  bright, 
as  well  as  a  dark  side.  The  hope  of  a  blessed 
resurrection,  when  all  who  have  fallen  asleep  in 
Christ  shall  meet  to  part  no  more,  has  a  cheer- 
ing influence  when  called  to  part  with  pious 
friends,  who  were  dear  to  us  as  our  own  souls. 
There  is  a  melancholy  pleasure  in  parting  with 
pious  friends,  even  in  the  most  trying  circum- 
stances. In  such  a  case,  death  wants  the  sting. 
It  is  but  the  shadow  of  death  ;  a  temporary,  and 
perhaps  a  short  separation.  May  the  Lord  grant 
you  all  that  consolation  which  the  prospect  of  a 
joyful  meeting  and  an  everlasting  enjoyment  are 
calculated  to  afford.  Our  object  in  sending  you 
these  few  lines,  is  simply  to  express  our  sincere 
sympathy  and  affection  towards  you,  while  the 
Lord  is  calling  you  to  pass  through  the  deep  wa- 
ters of  adversity.  Having  lately  met  at  Fraser- 
burgh, it  appeared   from  conversation  on  the 


210  MEMOIR  OF 

painful  event  which  has  taken  place,  that  we 
had  all  resolved  to  write  you  as  soon  as  you 
could  be  supposed  to  be  capable  of  attending  to 
any  kind  of  business ;  and  as  we  had  the  pros- 
pect of  soon  meeting  again  at  Peterhead,  we 
considered  it  preferable  to  unite  in  our  ex- 
pression of  sympathy.  When  the  painful  tid- 
ings reached  this  part  of  the  country,  they  pro- 
duced a  very  deep  impression  on  the  minds  of 
those  who,  from  personal  acquaintance,  or  by 
report,  could  form  a  proper  judgment  of  the 
loss  which  the  cause  of  God  has  sustained.  We 
felt  assured  that  our  loss  was  her  gain  ;  but  still 
the  thought  recurred  again  and  again,  How  can 
her  place  be  filled,  or  the  loss  made  up  to  her 
partner  in  life,  or  to  the  churches  in  whose  pros- 
perity she  took  such  a  lively  interest  ?  We 
have  often  proposed  the  anxious  inquiry  to  one 
another,  How  you  could  be  enabled  to  bear  the 
heavy  stroke,  without  unfitting  you  for  the  many 
important  duties  which  devolve  upon  you  ?  The 
Lord  has  in  part  dissipated  our  unbelieving  fears, 
by  the  reports  which  have  reached  us  of  the 
peculiar  support  which  the  Lord  has  afforded 
you.  May  you  continue  to  obtain  increasing- 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  his  promise,  'that  his 
grace  shall  be  made  sufficient  for  you,'  that  as  you 
have  been  honoured  to  direct  and  encourage 
many  in  the  day  of  their  calamity  by  your  instruc- 
tions, you  may  now  be  enabled  to  do  so  by  your 
example.       Sympathy   is  best    learned  in  the 


MRS.   EWING.  211 

school  of  affliction  ;  and  we  trust  that  you  will 
be  peculiarly  fitted  to  comfort  others  by  those 
consolations  wherewith  you  are  comforted  of 
God.  There  is  often  a  sad  mixture  of  selfish- 
ness in  our  grief  for  our  departed  friends.  It 
has  been  said  with  truth,  that  were  the  Lord  to 
consult  the  inclinations  of  his  people,  eminent 
and  useful  Christians  would  never  get  to  heav- 
en. Had  our  brethren  in  the  ministry,  or  many 
others,  got  their  will,  we  verily  believe  your 
dear  partner  had  been  among  the  last  to  reach 
the  haven  of  rest.  It  has  been  said,  that  though 
a  wish  could  bring  back  their  friends  from  the 
land  of  glory,  the  people  of  God  would  not  in- 
dulge that  wish:  you  could  not  safely  trust  your- 
self, nor  could  those  who  are  so  deeply  sensible 
of  your  loss,  be  trusted  on  this  point.  It  is  our 
mercy,  and  that  of  our  departed  friends,  that 
our  gracious  Redeemer  keeps  the  management 
of  this  delicate  matter  in  his  own  hand.  We 
are  prone  to  say  in  our  haste,  like  the  afflicted 
patriarch,  'All  these  things  are  against  us.'  But 
the  day  is  approaching  when  we  shall  say  from 
the  heart,  '  The  Lord  has  done  all  things  well*' 
There  is  a  need  be,  for  our  being  frequently  in 
heaviness  while  passing  through  this  world  of 
sin  ;  but  the  trial  of  our  faith  will  be  found  to 
the  honour  of  Christ  at  last.  If,  through  free 
mercy,  we  reach  the  land  of  perfect  purity,  fe- 
licity, and  glory,  we  shall  then  see  cause  to  bless 
God  for  our  severest  afflictions.     Patience  must 


212  MEMOIR    OF 

now  have  her  perfect  work  ;  and  we  are  called 
to  honour  God  by  trusting  him  in  the  midst  of 
dark  providences.  That  the  Lord  may  graciously 
support  you,  and  enable  you  to  do  and  bear  his 
holy  will  with  cheerfulness  and  fortitude,  that  he 
may  grant  you  a  large  measure  of  the  consola- 
tions of  his  Spirit,  and  render  you  increasingly 
useful  in  his  vineyard,  is  the  earnest  desire  and 
prayer  of,  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate  brethren, 
"James  Robertson,  John  M'Robert, 
Joseph  Gibb,  William  Legg, 

Alexander  Begg,      P.  L.  Anderson." 
James  Scott, 

"  Edinburgh,  Oct.  20th,  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Sir, 

"  The  severity  of  the  indisposition  under  which 
I  have  been  labouring  for  nearly  two  months, 
and  which  greatly  increased  during  the  last 
month,  will  plead  my  apology  for  not  having, 
ere  now,  expressed  in  a  personal  communication 
to  yourself, — the  reality  and  depth  of  my  sympa- 
thy in  the  very  heavy  affliction,  with  which  it 
has  pleased  an  infinitely  wise  and  gracious  God 
to  visit  you.  But  you  are  not  alone,  my  dear 
Sir,  in  the  experience  of  its  pressure.  No — and 
I  can  say  it  with  the  greatest  truth, — that  amid 
the  list  of  dear  and  valued  Christian  friends — 
and  these,  by  the  kindness  of  God,  have  not  been 
few — whose  removal  I  have  had  to  mourn,  there 
is  not  an  individual  whose  loss  I  have  so  deeply 
felt  and  deplored,  as  that  of  my  highly  valued 
friend,  your  dearly  and  justly  beloved  spouse. 


MRS.   EWING.  213 

When  I  think  of  the  purity  and  the  strength  of 
her  Christian  principles,  the  deep  and  the  ten- 
der interest  she  took  in  the  comfort  and  well-be- 
ing of  those  of  our  brethren  who  were  placed  in 
circumstances  which  called  for  the  exercise  of 
Christian  benevolence  towards  them,  and  above 
all,  when  I  think  of  her  holy,  ardent,  and  un- 
wearied zeal,  in  devising  and  prosecuting  those 
plans  of  usefulness,  which,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  have  been  productive  of  so  much  benefit 
in  promoting  both  the  temporal  and  spiritual  in- 
terests of  her  fellow-creatures,  I  cannot  but  re- 
gard this  dispensation  as  one  of  the  heaviest 
strokes  with  which  the  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Union  have  been  visited.  The  deep  in- 
terest she  took,  from  the  beginning,  in  every 
thing  connected  not  merely  with  the  success  of 
the  great  and  general  objects  of  that  Union,  but 
in  the  individual  prosperity  and  comfort  of  all 
its  members,  will  never,  I  am  persuaded,  be  ef- 
faced from  the  minds  of  those,  who  at  any  time 
had  access  to  the  privilege  of  her  society.  Oh  ! 
my  dear  Sir,  I  have  thought  more  frequently, 
and  though  I  cannot  say  more  highly,  yet  I  can 
say  more  tenderly  and  affectionately  of  her, 
since  she  has  been  taken  from  us,  than  I  did  be- 
fore. And  though  I  do  most  tenderly  sympa- 
thize with  you,  and  participate  in  the  grief  you 
experience  in  the  recollection  of  your  loss — I  yet 
feel,  and  I  rejoice  to  know  that  you  also  feel, 
that  there  is  something  inexpressibly  soothing 


214  MEMOIR    OF 

in  the  very  circumstances  of  her  death.  Oh, 
what  a  happiness,  that  she  who  had  so  adorned 
the  doctrine  of  her  God  and  Saviour  during  her 
life,  was  enabled  so  to  glorify  him  in  her  death ; 
a  death,  the  circumstances  of  which  were  all  ad- 
justed: and,  Oh, that  is  a  consoling  thought!  all 
adjusted,  in  the  very  manner  and  order  in  which 
they  occurred,  from  everlasting.  And  now, 
what  remains,  my  dear  friend,  but  that  you  and 
we,  in  reliance  on  the  grace  of  Christ,  study  with 
renewed  zeal  and  energy,  to  follow  her  foot- 
steps ;  pressing  onwards  towards  the  goal,  till, 
by  the  experience  of  the  same  mercy,  we  also 
attain  the  glorious  prize  !  And  then,  oh,  how 
transporting  the  thought  of  meeting  her,  and  all 
our  beloved  friends  who  have  fallen  asleep  in 
Christ,  around  the  throne,  and  participating 
with  them  in  an  everlasting  song  of  praise,  'un- 
to Him  who  hath  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  his  own  blood  ;'  and  then,  with  them, 
we  shall  look  back  on  all  the  way  by  which  the 
Lord  our  God  hath  led  us,  and  shall  acknowl- 
edge that  '  He  hath  done  all  things  well,'  and 
that  '  He  hath  led  us  by  the  right  way,  to  the 
city  of  eternal  habitation.' 

"  I  heard  from  our  dear  brother  Wardlaw,  (for 
whose  sermon,  which  I  feel  happy  and  thankful 
he  was  enabled  to  print,  I  send  you  my  best 
thanks)  that  you  had  experienced  somewhat  of  a 
bilious  attack.  I  hope  to  hear  that  you  are  re- 
lieved, when  you  can  find  it  convenient  to  send 
me  a  few  lines.    ************** 


MRS.    EWING.  115 

"  Mrs.  Aikman  unites  in  most  affectionate  re- 
gards to  you,  and  in  kindest  respects  to   Miss 
Cathcart,  who  we  rejoice  to  hear  is  so  recovered. 
"  I  ever  am,  my  dear  Sir, 

"  Very  affectionately  yours, 

"  John  Aikman." 

"  October  25th,  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  fear  this  letter  may  intrude  on  your  sor- 
rowful hours  ;  and  it  is  merely  to  gratify  my  own 
feelings,  for  you  require  not  my  feeble  testimo- 
ny to  departed  worth.  The  dear  saint  has  left 
many  friends  to  mourn,  and  also  to  rejoice  in 
her  happiness.  Her  kindness  to  myself  was  such 
as  I  never  can  forget ;  and  I  always  parted  from 
her  instructed  and  animated.  She  united  all 
that  is  admirable  in  Christian  character;  and 
her  sound  judgment  was  my  great  admiration. 
When  with  her,  I  always  regretted  when  any 
one  else  spoke,  however  excellent,  for  to  me 
there  was  a  charm  in  her  words ;  kindness  from 
one  so  superior  humbled  me.  She  was  in  all 
things  an  example,  and  although  what  I  am 
about  to  mention  is  certainly  a  very  secondary 
thing,  yet  it  did  add  to  the  perfection  of  the 
dear  saint's  character, — that  she  was  a  lady  in 
manners.  Such  an  example  of  holy  living  and 
happy  dying  is  left  for  good  to  many.  I  hope,  I 
doubt  not,  you  will  be  comforted  by  Him  who 
gave  you  the  blessing  of  such  a  wife  ;  and  to 
whose   happiness  you   so    largely    contributed 


216  MEMOIR    OF 

when  on  earth.  What  a  happy  meeting  it  will 
be  in  a  better  world,  when  you  are  again  united 
to  so  blessed  a  companion.  I  trust  your  valua- 
ble life  will  long  be  spared ;  and  that  you  may 
be  comforted.  For  myself,  I  would  desire  to 
follow  such  bright  examples  of  Christian  worth, 
and  to  cast  in  my  lot  with  the  people  of  God, 
now  and  for  ever.  I  beg  you  will  pardon  the 
liberty  of  writing.  I  was  exceedingly  gratified 
with  the  sermon  you  sent  me — not  one  word 
too  much  said.  *************** 
-  "  .Believe,  my  dear  Sir,  with  respect  and  affec- 
tionate sympathy,  M.  H." 

"  Kingsland,  near  London,  Oct.  28th,  1828. 
**  My  dear  Sir, 

"  When  the  late  dispensation  of  God  to  your 
family  was  announced  to  us  here,  in  the  Times 
newspaper,  it  excited  no  ordinary  sympathy  to- 
wards you,  among  those  who  knew  you,  and 
not  only  among  them,  but  also  among  many  oth- 
ers of  the  family  of  our  Lord;  and  prayers  were 
offered  for  you  in  public,  and  no  doubt  by  many 
in  private.  Having  known  her  long  before  your 
connexion  with  her,  as  well  as  afterwards,  you 
may  believe  I  felt  acutely,  and  would  have  writ- 
ten to  you,  but  I  checked  myself,  believing  it 
would  only  be  an  intrusion.  You,  my  dear  Sir, 
may  think  your  case  singular,  but  it  is  not  so 
much  so  as  you  may  suppose.  Only  in  my  little 
congregation,  one  not  less  distressing  happened, 
which  I  only  relate  to  let  you  know  what  sup- 


MRS.    EWLNG.  217 

ported  the  mind  of  the  survivor,  who  was  the 
female. 

" The  first  member  received  into  the  church 
at  Kingsland  after  my  ordination,  was  a  Mr. 
S  — n,  a  stock-broker,  lately  taken  into  partner- 
ship in  an  old  established  house— about  36  years 
of  age,  a  wife  and  young  family  of  seven  or  eight 
children— a  fine  looking,  and  one  of  the  most 
amiable  of  men,  wonderfully  beloved  by  our 
school  children— a  man  from  whom  I  expected 
much  assistance  in  useful  schemes.  The  couple 
had  been  married  about  ten  years,  and  never 
had  taken  one  trip  together  to  the  country  all 
that  time— at  length  they  fixed  on  spending  a 
holiday  in  June  at  Hornsey,  a  few  miles  beyond 
Kingsland— it  was  on  a  Wednesday— Mrs.  S. 
told  my  cousin  Miss  Campbell,  afterwards  Mrs. 
Dr.  Meikle,  India,  a  week  before,  of  the  pleas- 
ure they  expected  on  their  first  trip  since  mar- 
riage, if  it  should  turn  out  a  good  day.  The  day 
was  lovely,  they  had  dinner  and  tea  at  Hornsey, 
and  were  returning  in  time  to  hear  me  preach 
in  the  evening.  Sitting  in  their  gig  admiring 
the  surrounding  beauties  of  creation,  Mr.  S.  to 
give  his  wife  and  sister  plenty  of  room,  sat  on 
the  edge  of  the  gig,  holding  carelessly  the  reins 
of  the  horse  in  his  hand,  let  them  slip  out— in 
endeavouring  to  catch  them,  he  fell  out,  and  the 
wheel  went  over  the  lower  part  of  his  back— 
the  horse  went  on— wife  and  sister,  with  a  babe 
T 


218  MEMOIR  OF 

leaped  out,  screamed — no  house  in  sight — their 
screams,  however,  brought  a  gentleman  from 
behind  a  wall — an  empty  hackney  coach  came 
up,  Mr.  S.  was  put  into  it. — As  I  was  going  to 
preach,  they  were  carrying  him  into  his  house — 
I  asked  who  it  was — he  heard  my  voice,  got 
hold  of  my  hand,  which  obliged  me  to  follow 
him  to  his  bed  room.  On  being  laid  on  his 
bed,  he  cried  out — '  1  know  not  what  shall  he 
the  issue  of  this,  but  I  see  the  hand  of  God 
in  it — Before  I  left  him  he  threw  up  much 
blood — the  doctor  came  ;  I  went  to  preach — re- 
turned— he  must  be  keep  quiet,  and  could  not 
be  seen.  At  ten  when  sitting  at  supper,  two 
friends  came,  a  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  England, 
and  Mr.  R — r,  announcing  his  death — I  ran  to 
his  widow — she  thought  it  was  a  dream.  In  a 
day  or  two  she  declared  to  me — '  That  if  she  did 
not  believe  that  all  things  were  settled  and  or- 
dered by  God,  her  trial  would  be  unsupportable — 
she  would  be  saying,  Why  did  not  I  and  my  sister 
sit  closer,  and  give  more  room  to  my  husband,  to 
prevent  him  from  sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  gig? 
— but  I  have  considerable  peace  from  believing 
in  God,  as  the  disposer  of  all  things.'  God  took 
care  of  the  widow  and  her  children.  She  died 
only  about  two  years  ago — all  the  children  but 
one,  married,  and  doing  well. 

"After  your  painful  scene,  I  observed  Dr. 
Pinkerton  on  the  Lord's  day  morning  in  his  own 
pew  in  Kingsland  chapel,  having  just  arrived  in 


MRS.    EWING. 


219 


safety  from  a  tour  of  four  months  in  Norway, 
Sweden,  Germany,  &c.  Recollecting  what  had 
happened  in  your  short  trip,  I  could  not  but  give 
public  thanks  for  his  preservation — when  he 
came  into  the  vestry  after  it,  and  I  had  told  him 
of  your  trial,  he  felt  keenly,  and  it  seemed  to  in- 
crease his  gratitude  for  the  Lord's  goodness  to 
him.  I  thank  you  for  Dr.  Wardlaw's  sermon  on 
the  occasion,  which  I  received  last  night  at  the 
mission  house,  where  Mr.  Orme  shewed  me 
your  letter  to  him — may  the  God  of  Jacob  be 
your  refuge.  I  did  not  know  I  had  the  account 
you  gave  me  of  the  first  Mrs.  Ewing's  happy 
death,  till  about  six  weeks  ago  I  was  turning 
over  a  4to  Bible,  when  it  was  discovered — little 
did  I  suspect  at  the  time  that  you  was  so  soon 
to  send  me  another.  Well,  wait  a  little,  and  all 
those  scenes  will  become  more  intelligible,  and 
we  shall  see  and  say  that  all  was  well.  The 
Lord  be  with  you.  Amen.       I  am,  yours  truly. 

"John  Campbell." 

"  1,  Sidmouth  Street,  Oct.  31,  1828. 
"  My  very  dear  Sir, 

"I  return  you  my  cordial  thanks  for  a  copy  of 
our  mutual  friend  Dr.  Wardlaw's  admirable  dis- 
course, on  a  most  mournful  occasion.  How 
greatly  my  sympathies  and  those  of  Mrs.  Win- 
ter, have  been  excited  by  that  lamented  event, 
I  want  words  to  express.  The  remembrance  of 
the  kind  and  hospitable  attention,  which  we  re^ 


220  MEMOIR    OF 

ceived  from  dear  Mrs.  Ewing,  as  well  as  from 
yourself,  three  years  ago,  greatly  increased  the 
feeling.  And  perhaps  the  circumstance  of  our 
reading  the  earliest  intimation  of  the  event  in 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  amidst  the  picturesque  scene- 
ry, and  the  steep  declivities  of  which,  similar  ca- 
lamities have  sometimes  taken  place,  and  many 
providential  preservations  have  been  experien- 
ed,  produced  a  yet  greater  interest  in  the  awful 
catastrophe. 

"  But,  my  dear  friend,  it  is  your  high  and  dis- 
tinguishing mercy  to  be  fully  assured,  that  to  her 
to  die  was  gain,  as  to  her  to  live  was  Christ. 
May  the  '  strong,'  the  '  everlasting  consolation' 
which  is  provided  in  the  gospel  for  Christian 
mourners,  be  largely  poured  into  your  bosom. 
The  recollections  which  I  am  sure  must  mingle 
with  all  the  scenes  of  life,  and  all  the  engage- 
ments of  duty,  while  they  are  unavoidably  pain- 
ful, are  likewise  attended  with  supporting  con- 
siderations, of  what  she  was,  and  of  what  she  is 
and  will  be. 

"  I  can  most  truly  join  with  the  preacher,  in 
acknowledging,  that  with  a  zeal  truly  apostolic, 
although  of  course  in  a  sense  different  from  that 
of  the  original  declaration,  she  had  the  care  of 
all  the  churches;  in  our  missionary  progress 
through  the  north  of  Scotland,  previously  to  our 
last  visit  at  Glasgow,  it  was  delightful  to  hear 
our  good  brethren  in  almost  every  place  speak 
of  the  disinterested  and  extensive  Christian  be- 


MRS.    EWING. 


221 


nevolence  of  Mrs.  Ewing.  Well  might  she  be 
called,  not  for  advanced  years,  but  for  parental 
sympathies,  and  prayers,  and  instructions,  and 
even  laborious  and  unintermitted  exertions,  a 
Mother  in  Israel. 

"  Really  in  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  it 
is  far  more  wonderful,  that  the  lives  of  all  were 
not  terminated,  than  that  only  one  was.     *  *  *  * 

"  Farewell,  my  dear  friend.  The  God  of  hope 
and  consolation  be  ever  with  you. 

"Believe    me,  your    affectionate   friend,   and 

brother, 

"  Robert  W  inter. 

«  Leaf  Square,  Nov.  2,  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  cannot,  allow  the  present  opportunity,  af- 
forded me  by  the  return  of  my  young  friend, 
William  II n,  to  his  studies,  to  escape  with- 
out trespassing  so  far  on  your  attention,  as  brief- 
ly, but  most  sincerely,  to  express  my  unfeigned 
sympathy,  on  account  of  the  very  severe  afflic- 
tion with  which  our  heavenly  Father  has  been 
pleased  so  suddenly  to  visit  you.  When  I  was 
so  unfortunate  as  to  find  Mrs.  Ewing  confined 
to  her  room,  at  the  time  when  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  you  in  Glasgow  last  year,  it  did 
indeed  occur  to  my  mind,  that  I  then  should,  in  all 
probability,  never  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
her  again  in  this  vale  of  tears,  where  I  had  so 
often  witnessed  her  devoted  zeal  and  Christian 
kindness;    but  I  was  immediately  consoled  by 


222  MEMOIR    OF 

the  hope  that  we  should  ere  long  meet  in  our 
fathers  house,  where  all  would  be  bliss  and 
joy,  and  where  we  should  'go  out  no  more  for- 
ever.     But  little,  as  little  as  yourself,  did  I  im- 
agine that  we  should  be  speedily,  and  so  unex- 
pectedly summoned  to  resign  her  happy  spirit  to 
the  enjoyment  of  that  felicity,  from  which,  I  am 
sure,  your  own  heart,  with  all  its  tenderest  affec- 
tion, would  never  wish  to  recall  her.     She  cannot 
return  to  us:  may  we  prepare  to  go  to  her;  and 
may  the  recollection,  that  she  has  added  to  the 
number  of  the  attractions   of   heaven   derived 
from  earth,  powerfully  stimulate  our  best  ener- 
gies for  the  glory  of  our  Lord,  that,  whenever 
he  shall  be  pleased  to  send  for  us,  we  may  be 
*eady  to  join  the  blissful  circle  around  the  throne 
and  to  celebrate  the  praises  of  redeeming  grace 
for  ever  and  ever.     A  few  more  years,  perhaps 
days,  and  our  place  here  will  be   no  lon^r  oc- 
cupiedby  us :  may  it  be  faithfully,  and  happily 
filled  till  then;  and  may  a  better  place,  even  'a 
mansion  in  heaven,  be  then  enjoyed  ;  and  may 
the  recollection  of 'all  the  way  '  by  which   the 
Lord  has  led  us,  then  inspire  our  purest  devo- 
tions, and  swell  our  notes  of  praise  to  the  lofti- 
est strains,  to  the  glory  of  our  God  and  Father 
"I  trust,  my  dear  Sir,  that  the  God  of  all  con- 
solation has  graciously  supported  your  mind  un- 
der his  chastening   hand;    and  that  you  have 
found  even  this  mysterious  dispensation  one  of 
those  fraught  with    the  richest  blessings,  and 


MRS.   EWING.  223 

most  eminently  calculated  to  enable  you  to 
*  speak  a  word  in  season  to  him  that  is  weary,' 
and  to  '  comfort  the  mourners  in  Zion.'  Trust- 
ing that  it  is  indeed  so  with  you,  and  that  eve- 
ry revolving  year  will  more  abundantly  enrich 
you  with  that  preparation  for  the  joys  of  heav- 
en, which  forms  the  best  guarantee  of  comfort 
here,  and  hope  hereafter;  and  praying  that  all 
the  kindness  which  you  and  Mrs.  Ewing  so  con- 
stantly displayed  towards  the  friends  of  the  Re- 
deemer, who,  like  myself,  might,  by  distance 
from  beloved  relatives,  or  any  other  circumstan- 
ces, require  attention  or  comfort,  may  be  return- 
ed seven  fold,  in  richer  blessings,  on  your  own 
heart,  and  that  of  your  interesting  daughter,  and 
on  all  the  endeared  objects  of  her  affection, 

"I  remain,  my  dear  Sir,  your  much  obliged 
and  devoted  servant, 

"J.  Clunie." 

From  a  Friend  in  England. 

December  4,  1828. 
"  My  dear  Miss  C t, 

"She  has  exchanged  earth  for  heaven ; 

and  I  feel  sometimes  she  gives   a  fresji  power  to 

my  mind  to  look  to  that  world  of  bliss   with  a 

fond  hope  we  may  meet  in  those  realms  of  bliss 

where  she  now  lives  forever.     The  remembrance 

of  her  sweetly  Christian  life  and  character  seems 

as  a  fresh  spring  to  Christian  duties.     Oh  my 

heart  is  sore  when  I  think  I   shall  never  more 


224  MEMOIR    OF    MRS.    EWING. 

behold  her  in  this  world!  Scotland  seemt  to 
have  lost  its  charms.  Oh  dear,  dear  creature  !  I 
shall  never  behold  her  fellow  here  below.  But 
we  must  not  dwell  on  our  loss,  but  think  of  her 
unspeakable  gain  ;  and  the  time  cannot  be  long, 
humanly  speaking,  when,  through  the  abound- 
ing merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  we  shall  meet,  I 
trust,  to  part  no  more.  May  I  follow  the  dear 
Redeemer  as  she  followed  him  !  I  should  hope 
good  was  done  by  the  dear  saint's  Christian  he- 
roism in  death.  Oh  that  I  may  meet  the  King 
of  Terrors  with  the  faith  and  fortitude  she  was 
enabled  to  do !  We  have  all  fresh  cause  for 
adoring  the  Saviour  that  gave  her  such  a  victory 
over  death.  My  heart  aches  for  dear  Mr.  Ew- 
ing :  But  if  affliction  is  heavy,  his  comfort  in 
Christ  must  abound ;  and  though  the  beloved 
deceased  is  absent  in  body,  she  is  present  in 
spirit — there  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner 
that  repenteth.  How  great  must  be  the  joy  of 
our  dearly  beloved  and  glorified  friend  at  the 
many  souls  brought,  and  bringing  hourly  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  her  dear  husband,  and  all  the  pastors  of 
the  churches  of  Christ  to  whom  she  was  indeed  a 
sister.  I  beg  to  be  remembered  with  true  love 
and  affection  to  my  dear  quondam  pastor. 
"Yours  affectionately, 

"C.  P T." 


|P|'ll|C|'lllll|h||C|ill|:|a|l  Sem,nar>sP«'  L.brary 


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